Oneinfocus.org

Silent Contemplation

2010-03-11T16:18:00.007-05:00

This week with Oneinfocus in mind (wordplay intended) and on the way to a family dinner in Manhattan, I stopped by Central Park.

The remnants of an icy winter, gentle late afternoon light and stumbling upon a fitting opportunity framed a musing photograph.

Man is poised on the threshold of the spiritual world.

When he contemplates the phenomena of nature and civilization,
he senses that the physical world is a revelation of G-dliness.

Behind the photo:Aside from making sure shutter speeds were high enough (as I was shooting in low light), I was faced with the challenge of being super quiet. I managed to climb up onto the rocks and clenched my teeth every time I heard the shutter.
Even more challenging was making sure two people did not hear me!
Central Park, NYC

Behind the caption:In Judaism, the search for spirituality is not found high up in the mountains or on a journey from the comforts of home.
Truth is found within you and the world around. Chassidus highlights that the mundane and nature do not conceal G-dliness, rather they reveal Him. It just takes silent contemplation.
Wishing you a special Shabbos,
Michoel, Sarah and The Oneinfocus Team

The Oneinfocus Bookshelf

2010-03-09T22:12:00.007-05:00

Listed below are a collection of my favorite Torah and photography books. The list is a work in progress so keep checking back for updates.

The photography books are either an artist's exhibition or instructional or a fusion of the two.

Written by Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi (1745-1812), the founder of Chabad, Tanya is the central text of Chabad Chassidism. Its stated aim is to show a path to realizing one's purpose and developing a deeper relationship with G-d.

The Tanya offers guidance for every facet of the day-to-day life of a Jew in his or her service to G-d. This book: Lessons in Tanya leads the reader through every paragraph and page, illuminating the mystical, often allusive, Talmudic, Kabbalistic, and Scriptural verses and concepts.

Lessons in Tanya is catered for all levels of learning skill and is guaranteed to illuminate your soul and home with the warmth of Judaism.

______________________________

Roman Vishniac's A Vanished World is an extraordinary record of the lives of German and Eastern European Jews in the years immediately preceding the Holocaust.

Vishniac, a Russian Jew, began to take photographs of village life during World War I, when Russian Jews who lived near the front were accused of being German spies and were deported to Siberia. He later moved to Germany, where he witnessed the horrible events of Kristallnacht and the anti-Jewish legislation that allowed Hitler to declare his enemies stateless and therefore unworthy of international protection.

As you study Vishniac's photographs--a surviving fraction of the more than 16,000 he took--you are aware that you are seeing the faces of those soon to die, witnessing a world that has all but perished. Yet that world, of shops and schools, of busy streets and quiet farms, remains with us if only as a ghostly memory, thanks in part to Vishniac's compassionate eye.

_____________________________

Written by world renowned photoshop and photography educator Scott Kelby, The Digital Photography Book, tackles the most important side of digital photography--how to take pro-quality shots using the same tricks today's top digital pros use.

This entire book is written with a brilliant premise, and here’s how Scott describes it: "If you and I were out on a shoot, and you asked me, 'Hey, how do I get this flower to be in focus, but I want the background out of focus?' I wouldn't stand there and give you a lecture about aperture, exposure, and depth of field. In real life, I'd just say, 'Get out your telephoto lens, set your f/stop to f/2.8, focus on the flower, and fire away.' You'd say, 'OK,' and you'd get the shot. That's what this book is all about. A book of you and I shooting; I answer the questions, give you advice, and share the secrets.

Suitable for both the beginner and advanced shooter. When you have completed this book there is volume 2 and 3, or the entire boxed set. I own all three and continuously refer back to them.

______________________________

By far the best book on photography I have ever read - unbelievable!

Brenda Tharp is an award-winning photographer, writer, and teacher specializing in travel, nature, and outdoor photography.

Amateur and experienced photographers interested in taking more compelling, personal images will love this new edition of Creative Nature & Outdoor Photography. Brenda Tharp’s inspiring approach has garnered fans all over the world, as she teaches that magical skill no camera can do for you: learn how to “see.” Readers expand their photographic vision and discover deep wellsprings of creativity as they learn to use light, balance, color, design, pattern, texture, composition, and many simple techniques to take a photo from ordinary to high-impact.

Featuring more than 150 stunning, all-new images, Creative Nature & Outdoor Photography, Revised Edition is for anyone who understands the basic technical side to photography but wants to wake up their creative vision.

The Great Divide

2010-03-07T23:05:00.009-05:00

Monday could not get any better than this! Thank you to Warren Sklar - Cleveland, Ohio for the Meaningful Monday photo.

The photo: The Great Wall of China. Did you know that the Great Wall extends for 8,851.8 km or 5,500.3 mi?

Like colossal structures the mundane proudly claims,

"I am, and there is nothing else besides me.”

By elevating the mundane we transform walls of separation into paths of connection.

Behind the photo:

Whilst I was a student at the University of Michigan I would frequent the Sklar family home in Cleveland. A home filled with kindness, the warmth of Judaism and delicious food. Those were my best days of college!

To this day we have remained in contact and we are honored to have Warren exhibit a photo. Warren is a patent lawyer and was recently in China on business.

Thank you Warren for the awesome photo!

Wishing you a Meaningful Monday,

Michoel and Sarah

The Main Thing Is Action

2010-03-04T15:39:00.005-05:00

Preparation for this week's Shabbos email took Michoel to the center of Manhattan at twilight.

Just do some good.

Hey, Coca-Cola and Pepsi are both battling for real estate on Oneinfocus!
Behind the caption: The Lubavitcher Rebbe emphasizes that action is the main thing - hence the caption: Just do some good!
Chassidus enlightens us further that actions affect your essence. If you want to make a change within, i.e. nurture your nature, start with action and then both your wisdom and character traits will be refined.

Before we head out for another photo shoot! Michoel snapped this on the streets of Crown Heights over Purim:

Purim 2010, Brooklyn NY
Remember this guy? He showed up on Rosh Hashannah too!
Wishing you a wonderful Shabbos,
Michoel, Sarah and The Oneinfocus Team

A Lesson From A Peacock

2010-03-01T22:53:00.002-05:00

Can you believe a peacock is able to add Meaning to your Monday?

Thousands of years ago you were given a gift.

Display the colors of your heritage with pride.

Behind the photo:

The photo was taken in Rottnest Island off the coast of Western Australia. The camera: a new Canon pocket digital camera and the photographer: my father, Owen Ogince in Perth Australia. Thanks dad! We love the photo!

Wishing you a Meaningful Monday,

Michoel and Sarah

Masked Miracles

2010-02-25T02:33:00.007-05:00

An exciting week at Oneinfocus! We are thrilled to share with you an entire photo shoot experience and take you on a journey to Bokehistan.

Wondering where that is? Read on!

First up, this week's photo and caption:

Haman planned to destroy the Jewish nation.

Miracles masked behind natural events sent him to the gallows and Mordechai to victory.

Look behind the masquerade of daily occurrences and see the miracles that G-d performs for you.

Next in line, fasten your seat belts and check out the video below: A Oneinfocus photo shoot in Bokehistan, Brooklyn NY.

So by now you're thinking, "what exactly is going on here?"
Behind the photo:In photography, bokeh is the blur or the aesthetic quality of the blur in out-of-focus areas of an image, or the way the lens renders out-of-focus points of light (Source: Wikipedia). Amongst the photography and especially the strobist community a photo shoot in Bokehistan is anywhere with multiple small background light sources or reflections.

Bokehistan - Brooklyn, NY

Behind the caption:G-d performs two types of miracles, those that are openly revealed and those that are concealed. On Purim, Hashem performed wondrous miracles concealed in nature that saved the Jewish people from Haman's decree.
Today, we dress up on Purim to commemorate the miracles that Hashem performed and to remind us: Hashem plays a personal role in our daily routine, performing miracles at every moment and life experience.
Wishing you a joyous Shabbos and Purim,
Michoel, Sarah and The Oneinfocus Team.

Do Not Block The Gates

2010-02-21T23:36:00.003-05:00

Oneinfocus is excited to share with you a photo from Huntsville, Alabama!

Thank you to Rabbi Laibel Berkowitz, shaliach to Huntsville for the awesome Meaningful Monday photo. The sign on the gate reads "DO NOT BLOCK GATES"

Doubt blocks the gates of spiritual sustenance. Have faith in G-d, build a home of Torah Judaism andHe will rain down blessings of success and happiness!

Behind the photo: In addition to being a Rabbi in Alabama, Laibel is a creative graphic designer. Check out his awesome work at DesignerLaibel.com
Seems like he is also skilled at explaining to the police why he takes photos of decrepit houses in the snow!
Police - Huntsville, Alabama
Laibel, thank you for the great photos. We wish you only success in the amazing work you are doing out there.
Wishing you a Meaningful Monday,
Michoel, Sarah and Team Oneinfocus

A Spiritual Construction Site

2010-02-18T18:12:00.011-05:00

Team Oneinfocus spent more than 24 hours emailing back and forth deciding which photo to use for this week's Shabbos email.

The photo below taken recently in lower Manhattan, NY took home the gold.

The construction of the Sanctuary represents not only a physical building but also a spiritual one:

That G-d shall have a dwelling place in the heart of every Jew.

Taking home the silver medal:

Snowman, Brooklyn NY.
Feel welcome to share your thoughts on the above photos in the comments section.
Behind the caption:In this week's Parshah, Terumah we read about the construction of the Mishkan (Tabernacle). G-d commands the Jewish people, "Make Me a Sanctuary, and I shall dwell in them."
The Torah is eternal and thus so are it's messages. Hashem wanted not only a physical dwelling place but also an inner sanctuary. Judaism is not only for the synagogues and schools but rather Hashem desires a presence in our heart and every facet of our lives.
Wishing you an amazing Shabbos,
Michoel, Sarah and The Oneinfocus Team.

A Warm Winter Night

2010-02-14T23:43:00.006-05:00

This week's Meaningful Monday photo was submitted by Levi Grossbaum of Livingston, New Jersey.

There are two ways to get warm on a cold winter night:

Wrap yourself in furs, which conserves your own warmth but does not generate any heat or warm anyone else.

Build a fire, which warms everyone else as well.

Behind the photo:

Levi is the Special Program Director at Friendship Circle in Livingston, NJ. The photo was taken on a cold winter night at a local park. Levi increased the exposure time to 6 seconds, allowing more light to enter through the lens. This exaggerated the amount of light in the photo which in turn depicts a forest inferno!

Levi - Thank you for the stunning photo and we look forward to exhibiting more of your work in the future.

Wishing you a Meaningful Monday,

Michoel, Sarah and The Oneinfocus Team.

Icicles On Fire

2010-02-11T13:48:00.023-05:00

This week, Maryland, Washington DC and a number of other states in the northeast of the USA were hit by a raging winter blizzard. The nations capital came to a halt, schools were closed, thousands of homes were without power, and rescue teams searched for vehicles hemmed in by snowdrifts and unploughed roads.

This did not stop Oneinfocus! For this week's Shabbos email I tread through knee deep snow, protecting my camera in a waterproof case from the snow that fell from rooftops and tree branches.

The result:

The Baal Shem Tov loved light. When candles were scarce he instructed his disciples

to collect icicles from the branches, place them in candleholders and light them.

The third Lubavitcher Rebbe said,

"For the Baal Shem Tov's Chassidim, ice burned and yielded light.

Today you sit in heated and well lit rooms, and yet it's cold and dark."

Close to 3 feet of snow showered the outdoor deck:

The outdoor deck: almost 3 feet of snow.

We were trapped indoors for close to 3 days. Walking 35 minutes in knee deep snow to shul was tempting, however practical sense told us otherwise.
View from the front door: the cul-de-sac.
Finally, 2 days later the neighbourhood shire sent in private contractors to plow through the cul-de-sac.
Night shot: snow plow.
Behind the Caption: The Baal Shem Tov, Master of the Good Name as he was known enlightens us twice in one week! Rabbi Yisrael ben Eliezer (1698-1760) was the founder of Chassidism and was known for travelling to far away towns to emphasize the importance of joy and simple faith in serving G-d.
The take home message from this week's caption: Despite all the light and 'perfection' in the world, there is still a lot of darkness to transform. Be like the Baal Shem Tov and ignite the soul of others!
Wishing you an incredible Shabbos!
Michoel, Sarah and the Oneinfocus Team.

A Fire That Inspires

2010-02-07T22:34:00.009-05:00

Having the Monday morning blues? Oneinfocus will change the color of your day!

A student once asked his teacher, the Baal Shem Tov, "Why is it that you are constantly travelling from city to city and village to village, when most Torah scholars stay in their academies and receive students from all over the world?"

The Baal Shem Tov answered, "My dear, the teachings of Chassidus are like fire, while the teachings of the Talmud are like water.

All those who are thirsty flock to water; however, most people flee from fire. Therefore, I must travel to my students, and teach them that Chassidus is not a fire that consumes, but one that illuminates and inspires."

Behind the photo:

A hearty thank you to Yoni Steingiesser of Perth, Australia for the phenomenal photo. Yoni is a computer scientist and web designer. Perhaps we have another 'Perthite' who ought to take up photography full time!

The photo was taken on January 26th - Australia Day. For all our North American readers, that day is the equivalent of the 4th of July.

Yoni, thank you for the inspirational photo. Can the city of Perth do it 3 Mondays in a row?

Wishing you a Meaningful Monday,

Michoel, Sarah and the Oneinfocus Team.

It Once Happened...

2010-02-03T21:24:00.012-05:00

In early June 2008, a week after launching Oneinfocus we traveled to Columbia, Maryland. It was a summer sunset, and I headed out on a photo shoot. Not far from the home of my in-laws I found an abandoned hotdog stand.

On a cold winter day, more than a year later I returned to the same spot.

The sixth Lubavitcher Rebbe was once gazing out of the window, when his teacher approached him.

"Always remember Yosef Yitzchak," he said,

"it is better to be on the outside looking in, than on the inside looking out."

Below are the the photo and caption from the summer of 2008:

In my yellow abode

I dream of a constant light

The sun rises and hours later it sets

I am lost in a shade of darkness...

In my yellow abode

I dream of a constant light

I wake early in the morning to chop firewood

It is cold and the work is strenuous

But the firewood gives rise to a constant light

So too in life we have inspiration from Above

But this is an inspiration that comes and goes; like the sun, it rises and sets

If we chop the wood and put in the effort arousing our own inspiration, success follows

If this is so for material pursuits, how much more so for spiritual pursuits...

Interestingly the latter photo was taken with this small pocket camera:

Canon SD550: Released by Canon in early 2005.

Behind the photo:Photography is always about your eye, not the camera. That Canon was my first digital camera and even today I often walk around with it in my pocket!
This week's photo: Shooting in the snow is always a challenge. I had to adjust the exposure to compensate for the domineering white color and take into account reflected light bouncing off the snow.
Behind the caption:"It is better to be on the outside looking in, than on the inside looking out."
In every facet of life, and even more so spiritually, never feel you have reached your comfort zone. Growth - both materially and spiritually is dependent on moving forwards.
To use another analogy: Life is like ascending an escalator that is moving down. If you are not moving twice the speed of the escalator then you are either going to remain in the same spot or... move down. Now there is a photo! Do you have the courage...
Wishing you an amazing Shabbos,
Michoel, Sarah and the Oneinfocus Team.

Turn Up The Heat

2010-01-31T16:05:00.016-05:00

Looking for a Meaningful Monday? You have come to the right place!

Thank you to Brad Ross (Perth, Australia) for this week's photograph.

The G-dly soul is enclosed within the animal soul.
When the fire of the G-dly is fueled by Torah and mitzvosit refines the animal soul raising it to new spiritual heights!

Behind the photo: Brad works in property valuation and consultancy and claims to just snap a few photos here and there with his pocket camera. Looks like he should quit his day job and take up shooting full time! Thank you Brad for the stunning photo.
The photo was taken in the Avon Valley, north west of Perth in Western Australia. View it on the map below.
Satellite Map: South West of Western AustraliaPoint marked 'A' = Avon Valley
Behind the caption: The human is a physical being comprising two souls. The animal - that strives for earthly matters and the G-dly which desires only spirituality. These two opposing forces are constantly in battle.
When the the animal soul wins, it drags down the G-dly soul, away from it's source. However, when one's life is filled with Torah and mitzvos the G-dly soul lights up, elevating the animal soul to greater heights!
Wishing you a Meaningful Monday!
Michoel and Sarah

The Shabbos Bride

2010-01-28T13:15:00.022-05:00

Eagerly the Oneinfocus team have waited all week to exhibit this one! Remember the Ketubah?

Meet the bride and groom...

Shabbos is a bride and the Children of Israel are her groom.

Their preparation for the special day grants them a twofold reward:

The element of Shabbos that is vested in the weekday

and a heightened level of sanctity when they embrace.

Behind the photo:

The photo is from an artistic assignment at a recent wedding in Brooklyn, NY. Wedding photography is tough. Moments last for a second or two and if you miss it - history does not repeat itself.

In contrast, studio or my favourite - landscape and nature photography there is usually more time and control. For example, when shooting the sunrise over a body of water you have time to scout out the area for the best vantage point, analyse the ambient light source, setup the tripod and adjust the camera settings.

The truth is in the latter case there is a greater challenge. Since you have control over more variables there is no excuse not to get a phenomenal photo!

Behind the caption:

In this week's Torah reading, Parshat Beshalach we find the first explicit mention of the obligation to observe the Sabbath.

In the Shabbos evening prayers we sing Lecha Dodi - a mystical hymn that was composed by the kabbalist Rabbi Shlomo HaLevi Alkabetz (c. 5260-5340). The hymn is based on the Talmudic reference to the holy Shabbos termed a Bridal Queen. And we are her groom who once a week embrace for a spiritual delight.

Chassidus enlightens us that it is not only this time which is sanctified but also the moments of preparation during week!

Want more visual inspiration that is connected with Shabbos? See the following link to The Wheel on Shabbos.

Thank you to Yitzchak and Yehudis Smith for allowing us to use the photograph for this week's Oneinfocus email.

Wishing you an amazing Shabbos and even more so: a week filled with Shabbos!

Michoel and Sarah

A Dance of Love

2010-01-21T17:18:00.008-05:00

Oneinfocus is honored to have a special guest author this week's email caption. Rabbi Aron Moss of Sydney, Australia is a renowned teacher of Kabbalah and Talmud and writes his own weekly inspirational email. Additionally, Rabbi Moss is a well known author at Chabad.org.

The Oneinfocus team are a big fan of Rabbi Moss's email and we highly recommend the weekly dose! Here is the link to subscribe.

This week's photo: A few nights ago I was on a photo assignment at the wedding of Yitzchak Smith (Pretoria, South Africa) to Yehudis Rumbak (Tampa, FL) in Brooklyn, NY. Thank you to Yitzchak and his wife for allowing Oneinfocus to use the photo.

You're looking at a Ketubah - marriage contract.

Man is a line. Woman is a circle.

Marriage is the art of making a oneness out of these two,

mingling the directed, mission-oriented linear energy of the male

with the nurturing, embracing circular energy of the female.

Combine a line and a circle and you get a spiral.

When both man and woman transcend themselves and open up to the divine power that unites them,

they create an infinite spiral, twirling upward in a dance of love.

Behind the photo:

The most important factor in photography is the eye behind the camera. I always see the photo before I have even lifted the camera to my eyes.

Whilst the Rabbi was completing the ketubah I noticed another copy spiraled up on the table.

Notice the ketubah in the background spiraled up.
Whilst taking the photo I rotated the camera a few degrees - See in the first photo, the table is at an angle. This adds extra 'bounce' to the photo - popping out at the viewer.
The blurred detail was achieved by opening up the aperture of the lens to the lowest F number - in this case F/1.4. This is called depth of field (DOF) and in the photo it would be described as a shallow depth of field.
Behind the caption: Thank you Rabbi Moss - The caption is unbelievable! A successful marriage is achieved when 1+1=1. That is not a mathematical error! When both partners connect to the that which is beyond themselves, it makes room for each other and place for Hashem to dwell. In the word's of Rabbi Moss: A marriage that's twirling upward in a dance of love!
Wishing you a lovely Shabbos!
Michoel, Sarah and the Oneinfocus Team

Painting Light

2010-01-14T17:54:00.007-05:00

This week a Oneinfocus photo shoot in Columbia, Maryland. I took this photo around 8am, near the local Chabad house - where else would you find so much light!

The Torah teaches that we are day workers.

Day means light.

Our work is to paint the world with the light of Torah

by strengthening ourselves and inspiring others.

I could not resist and returned to this snowy field the same day at twilight.

The same day, at twilight.

Behind the photo:This color 'format' is called Sepia. In the old days when we used to process film, it was a color 'technique' done by chemically treating the photo paper. Today, it is a setting, either in camera or in post processing using Photoshop.
Here is the original - full color at 8:00am!
The original photo in color.

Behind the caption: The caption is based on the famous, daily dose of inspiration Hayom Yom, for the 29th day of Tevet which is tomorrow, or for our Asian and Australian readers today! (Friday 15th January).

Hayom Yom was compiled and arranged by the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, of righteous memory, in 5703 (1943) from the talks and letters of the sixth Chabad Rebbe, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn.
In describing this work, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak described it as a splendid palace of Chasidism!

Wishing you an amazing Shabbos,
Michoel and Sarah

Why We Need A Rebbe?

2010-01-03T23:54:00.004-05:00

A phenomenal photograph submitted for Meaningful Monday - taken by Yaakov Hoffinger of Brooklyn, NY.

Here at Oneinfocus we have fallen in love with this photo - placid diffused light and well composed. The photo was taken at the Ohel (resting place) of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Menachem Mendel Schneerson in Queens, NY. The photo - Yaakov's son Menachem Mendel.

A Rebbe allows a Jew to internalize faith

and claim, "This is my G-d, this is my G-dly soul."

Behind the caption:

The caption is based on Tanya, Likutei Amarim, Chapter 2. The Alter Rebbe explains that one who cleaves to a holy tzaddik (righteous) person is as if he has become attached to the Divine Presence. Attaching one's self to a Rebbe allows him to experience his soul and connect with G-d himself.

Wishing you a Meaningful Monday,

Michoel and Sarah

Business As Usual

2009-12-31T15:40:00.004-05:00

A special request from this week's sponsor Shmulik and Rachel Cohen (Perth, Australia) - NYC in the snow.

Oneinfocus delivers:

A Jew's footsteps to the office are directed by a deeper purpose than personal business.

To illuminate his surroundings

by strengthening and spreading Torah and Mitzvoth.

This is the third of the NYC Collection. Below are the the other two. We want to know which is your favorite - share your thoughts in the comments below.

Interestingly the photo above was taken in Manhattan itself, in Central Park.

This photo below from Brooklyn:

An anxious onlooker once asked the holy Rabbi Meir of Premishlan: "Aren't you afraid to tread that icy, slippery path?"

"When you're bound to the heights Above," he said, "down here you don't slip."

True, this world is a very narrow bridge - but it's a suspension bridge.

(Words compiled by Uri Kaploun, Jerusalem Israel)

And this from New Jersey:

Water speaks. It sings and it whispers. It winks and dances, beckons and threatens,

but it can't overcome gravity; it always descends.... Unless there is a fire.

Water is pleasure. Without heart-fire to your Creator,

even if you're above water.... You're sunk.

But with it, you are cooking! And can transform bitter to sweet.

(Authored by Rabbi Tuvia Bolton, Kfar Chabad, Israel)

Oneinfocus is offering 3 limited editions prints of NYC - The Collection. Be one of only 3 people to exhibit The Collection on your wall. For details contact Oneinfocus.

Until next week's photo shoot - we wish you an outstanding Shabbos!

In addition we have a special surprise coming up in the next few weeks - stay focused to find out!

Michoel and Sarah

A Spiritual Garden

2009-12-24T16:54:00.009-05:00

Last Shabbos I bought flowers for my wife - leaving them in a vase on the window sill over Shabbos and the weekend.

We have central heating in our apartment and with the snowy weather here in NYC they really turned the heat up. As a result, over Shabbos I opened the window. Within 24 hours the icy air had burned the delicate petals and withered the leaves.

Perfect for a photo shoot!

The Zohar opens with the image of the Jewish soul likened to a beloved rose among the thorns of materialism.

The thorns wither the soul's sensitivity to G-dliness.

Prune away the thorns and the soul flourishes in Hashem's shining light.

Behind the photo:

I love setting up these shots - always anxious to see the end result.

Strobist and Camera Setup

Nikon SB800 flash in a softbox (to diffuse the light) at camera left.
Cardboard on back wall.
Camera lens at full zoom.

The photo was actually taken in portrait orientation. I used Photoshop to rotate the image to landscape orientation. Definitely made a world of difference.

Strobist and camera enthusiasts can read detailed settings in the Oneinfocus Flickr Stream.

Behind the caption:

Like the caption lets keep this short. If I may another analogy: You can't full a cup with both water and fire - it's either your entire motivation and passion is for materialism or G-dliness. Now there's a photo!

Immerse your passions in the holy wisdom of Torah and use every aspect of creation for spiritual purposes. Your soul will shine in the light of Hashem's hidden presence!

Good Shabbos,

Michoel and Sarah

Lighting the Dreidel Factory

2009-12-17T21:27:00.008-05:00

Seriously spun out! - Lighting the dreidel factory in Brooklyn for this week's Shabbos email!

A hearty thank you to Yechiel Nadler of Nadler Quality Services for carving this beautiful dreidel and allowing Oneinfocus to use his shop for a location photo shoot.

Want to know why we play the dreidel game? Read on...

During the Greek oppression, children concealed their Torah study by playing dreidel.

Today our children play to honor the game that preserved Jewish learning.

Behind the photo:

An intricate lighting setup with a number of variables to control in order to illuminate correctly.

Lighting the dreidel factory.
The photo (above) shows a 2 light setup:

Nikon SB800 Flash inside a softbox. Fired wirelessly via infrared.
A snooted LED blue Flashlight to light the jagged edge saw (see below).
A piece of wood was placed behind the dreidel to prevent the blue light 'spilling' across the frame.
Turned off the harsh ambient tungsten room lights.
The camera was set on auto timer. I held the torch, facing it directly on the saw.
Entire shoot took about 1.5 hours, including setup and tear down.

Snooted LED blue flashlight
Strobist and camera enthusiasts can read detailed settings in the Oneinfocus Flickr Stream.
Behind the caption:

"During the Greek oppression, children concealed their Torah study by playing dreidel.

Today our children play to honor the game that preserved Jewish learning."
Contrary to popular thought that the dreidel was an interruption to the children's learning, in truth it made learning possible! Interestingly, the Hebrew letters on a dreidel spell out, 'A great miracle happened there,' referring to the miracle of continued Torah study by the Jewish children.
Wishing you a phenomenal Shabbos and a Happy Chanukah!
Michoel and Sarah

A Chanukah Lesson

2009-12-13T23:08:00.003-05:00

In honor of Chanukah, Oneinfocus exhibits a photo submitted by Levi Jacobson of Brooklyn, NY for Meaningful Monday. Moving up from our youngest photographer, Levi age 8 took the photo last year Chanukah.

Like the soul, a flame illuminates the world around it and kindles others...

The soul of man is compared to a flame and Chanukah teaches us the powerful effects of the soul - Through a mitzvah you connect to your soul. In turn your soul illuminates the darkness and inspires others in the ways of Torah and mitzvahs.
Levi - Thank you for the beautiful photo.
Wishing you a Happy Chanukah and a Meaningful Monday,
Michoel and Sarah

Chanukah - A Spiritual Battle

2009-12-10T12:55:00.011-05:00

In preparation for this week's Shabbos email - A photo shoot in Times Square, NY. Onlookers gathered wondering just what I was doing with a camera, tripod, flash strobes, a menorah and candles?

Even the New York City Police took interest, especially when I repeatedly tried to light the candles against the strong winter winds.

The result:

Chanukah commemorates a spiritual battle.

The Greeks fought to make Judaism a culture and void of G-dliness.

Lighting the menorah is our battle emblem - the victory of light over darkness.

A wide angle view:

Menorah on a table in Times Square, NYC.Camera right: A Nikon SB800 Flash.

Behind the Photo:In Times Square there is light of all colors bouncing everywhere. This made the shoot both challenging and fun! Of most important was to balance the ambient (which is really artificial) light with the flash light. For all the camera and strobist enthusiasts - to do this:

Turn off all flash strobes.
Set camera to Program mode - here the camera chooses the optimal shutter speed and F-stop.
Memorize it and turn the dial to Manual mode.
Now close down the aperture (select a higher F-stop number) so the photo is slightly underexposed.
Turn on the flash strobe(s) and add light - setting the power to the desired amount.
Clear? Drop me a line if you need more info :)
Detailed camera and strobe settings are available in the Oneinfocus Flickr Stream.

Below is another photo in portrait orientation from the shoot:

Chanukah commemorates a spiritual battle.

The Greeks fought to make Judaism a culture and void of G-dliness.

Lighting the menorah is our battle emblem - the victory of light over darkness.

Behind the caption:

The Greeks were determined to remove G-d from Judaism. They demanded, "Keep your books and your Torah, but remove the concept of a higher reality."

The military victory against the Greeks was a miracle that preceded and made possible the lighting of the menorah in the Temple. This light symbolizes the essence of the battle and the victory of spirituality over darkness!

Want more visual inspiration? See last year's Oneinfocus Chanukah photo and caption!

Wishing you a Good Shabbos and Happy Chanukah,

Michoel and Sarah

The Heart of Torah

2009-12-03T13:37:00.011-05:00

I am still home bound helping with our precious newborn. As a result, for this week's Shabbos email: a photo shoot at Oneinfocus HQ that really did involve playing with light!

When one finds joy in the light of the soul,
a passageway opens to fulfill the heart of the Torah - infinite love for one's fellow Jew.

Wondering how I did this? A semi complicated set-up that involved the use of red cellophane paper.
Strobist Setup
We had a lot fun setting this up!

Nikon Flash on a Bogen light stand.
I covered the flash head with red cellophane paper (see below).
Set the flash to 105mm to create a narrow beam of light.
A halogen desk lamp to light the outside of the heart shape.
Attached to the lamp is a homemade 'snoot.' I rolled up cardboard paper and stuck it with tape to the lamp. A snoot contains and focus the beam of light to a specific area.

Camera and strobist enthusiasts can read detailed flash and exposure settings in the Oneinfocus Flickr Stream.

Below is a photo that shows the red cellophane paper.

Nikon Flash covered with red cellophane paper

Behind the inspirational caption:The Talmud relates that it was Hillel the Elder who authored the well-known statement that ahavat Yisrael (the love of one’s fellow Jew) is the basis of the entire Torah. Hillel was approached by a gentile who declared that he wished to convert to Judaism, but only if Hillel would teach him the entire Torah while he stood on one foot. Hillel replied, “What is hateful to you, do not do to your fellow. That is the whole Torah; the rest is but commentary."
Additionally, the caption coincides with the forthcoming Chassidic Yom Tov which falls this Sunday. The date is Yud Tes (19th) Kislev which the "Rosh Hashanah of Chassidism." It was on this date, in the year 1798, that the founder of Chabad Chassidism, Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi was freed from his imprisonment in Czarist Russia. More than a personal liberation, this was a significant event in Jewish history when Chassidism was born. Rabbi Schneur Zalman compiled the Tanya, the blueprint of Chabad Chassidus and illuminated the Jewish world with the inner mystical aspect of Torah. Chapter 32 of the Tanya, in Hebrew lamed beis which spells out lev (heart) is literally the life force of Judaism and teaches us how to fulfill the special of mitzvah of infinite love of one's fellow Jew.
Wishing you an amazing Shabbos,
Michoel and Sarah

A Splash of Kabbalah

2009-11-26T12:24:00.016-05:00

For this week's Shabbos email - a creative photo shoot at Oneinfocus HQ.

Torah is compared to water that descends from Above to below.

Add to it a splash of Kabbalah - the inner dimension of Torah,

and G-d's wisdom is flavored with your passion and awe!

Behind the photo:

Unlike last week, this was a relatively complicated photo shoot with balancing flash and ambient light, controlling the beam of light, bouncing it and then of course, the challenge of timing!

Camera and Strobist Setup

In summary:

Camera left: A Nikon SB800 Flash in a softbox.
Camera right: White reflective cardboard to bounce back some of the light.
Black cardboard behind the object.
Camera (Nikon D90) on a tripod.
I set the camera on timer and a split second before the shutter opened - dropped a slice of lemon. Shhhh.... I missed the wine glass a few times!

Camera and strobist enthusiasts can read detailed flash and exposure settings in the Oneinfocus Flickr Stream.

Behind the inspirational caption:

There are two aspects to the Torah:

The revealed:

G-d enclosed His wisdom in the Torah - these are the halachot or laws by which we live. The study of Torah is within the realms of intellect as it can be understood.

The concealed:

In contrast, Kabbalah/Chassidus is hidden and concealed. This is the esoteric aspect of Torah and comprises the study of the supernal realms, why the world was created?, why you were created? and knowing G-d.

The study of Chassidus engenders awe and love for G-d. Like a splash of lemon to the water, this makes the study of Torah and the performance of mitzvot much more flavorsome!

Wishing you a phenomenal Shabbos,

Michoel and Sarah

Who Knew Radishes Were So Sweet?

2009-11-23T22:46:00.002-05:00

Thank you to Rabbi Shaul Wertheimer of Chabad of Queens College, NY for this week's Meaningful Monday. This is Rabbi Wertheimer's second exhibit on Oneinfocus and was also snapped with his Blackberry cellphone.

Here at Oneinfocus HQ we are excited that perhaps this Rabbi is a photographer in the making who will soon be working at Oneinfocus. The question remains: Can Rabbi Wertheimer make a third exhibit?

A good deed transforms bitterness to sweetness

by affecting the world around you and granting gratification to Hashem.

Thank you Rabbi Wertheimer and to his daughter Shoshi for showing us just how sweet radishes really are!

Wishing you a Meaningful Monday,

Michoel and Sarah