George...for a young guy, you sure know a lot about the good old days. Thanks for the comment and the high ratings.

Yes, the card in the middle is the test pattern that used to be displayed for about an hour before the daily broadcast began on KTLA (Los Angeles) around 1950. I put it there to provide my wife's litle autofocus camera something to focus on and establish the exposure values. It's also there as a conversation piece.

You haven't noticed that I employed the trendy gimmick (in my opinion) of cropping through the subject's face and leaving lot's of empty space to one side, then just did the same thing from the other side. My prediction is that we'll see a few of those in this theme. I wanted to strike irst.

This is two consecutive exposures of me standing on either side of the test pattern, with just a little blending in PhotoShop. The background is not manipulated (e.g., created in Photoshop).

...and I guess if I had been around longer I would have known that this was you King.

@Hummingbird...I think that's one of the reasons we repeat the self-portrait theme. Actually, I'm a believer in actually showing what we really look like, but you'll find that many or most contributors like to stay rather anonymous.

I'm looking forward to seeing a phot of you.

Thanks for all your comments.

Thanks, everyone.
Lange...is the shot described to your satisfaction?
Montage...not grumpy, just trying to hold still and anticipate when the little camera's shutter would click.
Dave_Mac...Thanks (blush)

Craig...to elaborate on the test pattern.

First, it was my solution to a technical problem: how to get the camera to focus and exposure for the middle of the space, where I wouldn't be. This camera is dumb, and has *no* manual operations.

Second, the test pattern represents an artifact from my childhood. I used to get up (as a six-year old boy) to watch the morning cartoons. I don't remember what time they started...let's say 6:30 a.m. Before the cartoons began, this test pattern was displayed for about 1/2 hour or so. After the test pattern, the Paramount logo would appear (bottom of this page: http://www.kingdouglas.com/Journal02.htm) and the stars would fade in, one by one. After that, cartoons! To me, the test pattern was a pretty exciting picture because of what came right after.

I wish people would stop rating this image. My ratings are going down. If no one else rates this, it stands an outside chance of getting featured, much to my surprise.

King, I actually remember the test pattern from when I was growing up too (so its not *that* long ago, lol), which is why I referred to the "station break", as it used to indicate when the station was not on the air.

BTW, you could do a credible job of standing in for George C. Scott.

Hum?... did I miss something? What you mean?

King,

I was always sure you are in fact Leslie Nilsen with a fake beard.

Now I know.

Congrats, a well deserved front page appearance!

Congrats on the feature Maestro!

:-))

very fancy.

congrats

ChriZ, Bio, Brant, Vernon...thank you, good fellows.

by far my favorite test pattern!

this is great king.. ment to comment on it before i left for the day.. really great self port.

@dunny...praise from Caesar is praise, indeed! Won't you please tell us about your great, featured self portrait?

King,
why did you never tell us you have a twin brother???

I always wanted to know... What the heck are these test patterns supposed to tset - or more precisely, how?

My real name is Data...that's me on the right. The other (cough) person is named Lor. We have different positronic pathways and that has made all the difference.

Bio...

Go here:

http://www.videouniversity.com/tvtestpa.htm

and here:

http://www.meldrum.co.uk/mhp/testcard/index.html

Thx.

And, King (Data, that is), I can say that your positronic pathway is definitely curlier :)

Data and Lor! I love it, and I love that you reference it.
You have a lot of George C. Scott in you, my friend (he is my favorite actor), so now when I read your words I will hear his wonderful voice.
There's lots I like about this photo...the gradient falloff on the background; I love the test pattern (definitely iconic in my life) and I like its symbolism. It's a great self portrait...well done.

This is REALLY good King.

King, congrats on another terrific out of the box image!

Is that George C Scott?

by far my favorite test pattern!

this is great king.. ment to comment on it before i left for the day.. really great self port.

Hello King ..

I simply love ur photography

Thanks, Ade!