As ya'll know I've been working on an espresso cup and some beans, and recently I needed some foam texture, the "crem" from the top of a mocha, cappuccino, etc. Something that doesn't look like a cloud. So I've begun to take some photos of the stuff. And so I've set up a tripod at the local coffee shop and ordered different drinks just to take pictures. There were some stares and finger pointing by/from the others in the shop. And no, I didn't try to explain it's for art. I can hear it now "that's art? He says that's art!"

I suppose taking photos in macro of a brick wall, table top, or other interesting texture for the use of a mat must attract some stares from observers. Has anyone gone through this experience?

Anyway,  I was able to get some stuff which I hope is good enough to apply as a decent mat. Haven't edited the photos yet. But anyway.... crazy experience.....

Mate go to www.coffeegeek.com and ask in the forums there if anyone has got great pictures of foam.  Mark Prince (aka Coffee Kid) who runs the site takes awesome shots, if he'll send you some texture shots you'll be laughing.  Bear in mind he has some serious espresso machines at home including a full on heat exchanger La Marzzoco.

Oh they'll also be able to point you to the best coffee shops near you ;)

I did that for a commision. I had to stand in the middle of the road with a tripod and take pics of a carpark.........thankfully it wasn't a very busy road.......

Recently, we'd been having trouble with vandals and Asbo types, so I got my videocam out and took footage of the damage and rubbish for evidence should the cops want to take things further. As it happened one of the perps saw me taking the movie and hightailed it out of there. We never saw them again..............!

I've had that on holiday, when I was taking close up pictures of walls and bits - Prague tube stations have amazing potential texture-wise! I think the locals just assume (rightly) that I'm English, and that warrants strange behaviour...

If being English warrants strange behaviour, what about being an American?  I know from experience we stick out like a guy wearing a halo overseas.

lol..all true great artists do mad stuff for their art!! been there, done that a gazillion times...

That's the beauty of a decent zoon lens (or was in Istanbul), I could take texture shots from the same location as my mates were taking shots of the whole building.

To me, it's half the fun. I've gotten comments in the background that nearly ruined shots, trying not to laugh. Lou.

No you see, you're thinking of a zoom lens, a zoon lens actively increases the funny comments (must check my typing more carefully in future).

I love to drive around on cloudy days and take texture shots.  I get a lot of stares and comments when they see me standing a few feet from a brick wall snapping away.  

But, if they ask, I just tell them the truth, that I do a lot of computer art and I need the textures to apply to my models.  Most people are really interested in the process.

I wonder if i can get away with making photo's of jessica alba if its for texture reference...

gee i have two fake cameras setup at my mothers house that i made from old 35mm lenses, old computer power supply cases and some tv coaxual cable...bit more to ir but if you have no idea on electrical circuitry then i wont go into the idea behind the red light on the box.

I got the idea of them from a security system thats setup in a bank after waiting to be served for 15 minutes and looking around.

I've had odd looks when taking shots of plain brick walls around the college campus but the most "she's crazy" looks I got when taking photos of the different drain covers... Lol!

I'm currently interested in street scenes, so...(shrug)