Posts from the ‘Americana’ Category
Capture:
Nikon D700
Nikkor 45mm PC-E
Hand held
Processing Notes:
Capture – 1 image
Photomatix – HDR/Tonemapping
Photoshop – Curves adjustment
Nik Color Efex Pro – Darken/Lighten Center
Sized for web
LightAsMagic.com
I turned right.
Capture:
Nikon D700
Nikkor 45mm PCE
Handheld
Processing Notes:
Adobe Camera Raw
Nik Silver Efex Pro – B&W Conversion
Sized for web
LightAsMagic.com
To recognize Bike to Work Day, here is a story unrelated to the image.
I was hammering home today on my bike. I mean I was really suffering coming up a local hill here in town. I felt lean, my legs felt great, and I was chasing a Tour title in my head. Suddenly, my dream was interrupted by the sound of a bicycle behind me. I thought to myself, ‘no way…no one could catch me at this speed’. Sure enough, this guy was gaining. To quote the Princess Bride, “Inconceivable”. I began to make excuses. He probably isn’t carrying a pack home from work, or maybe it is a local pro? Just as he catches me, I look over my shoulder, positive I was going to see George Hincapie, decked out in a National Champion jersey. Nope, no Hincapie! I see a guy in jeans and flip-flops. He even has enough breath to tell me I am riding really fast. What the heck was this? I know I’m no pro, but common, I can’t be that slow. Thankfully, upon closer inspection, he was riding an electric bike. My tour dreams are still intact! Anyways, I hope everyone here has the opportunity to participate in their local bike to work days. Once you do it, you will be hooked.
Craft & Vision: If you have ever wanted to start experimenting with the video capabilities of your DSLR (I know I have!) Trevor Meier just published a great new eBook titled Vision in Motion about the issues of motion storytelling. It is full of useful tips regarding composition, capture, and gear.
Craft & Vision Coupon Codes (expire June 27th):
- MOTION4 to receive the eBook for a mere $4.00.
- MOTION20 to receive 20(percent) off of the purchase of 5 or more eBooks.
Capture Notes:
Nikon D300
Nikkor 17-35 AFS
Gitzo Traveler
Exposure:0.001 sec (1/1000)
Aperture:f/4.0
Focal Length:17 mm
ISO Speed:200
Processing Notes:
Capture – 1 image
Photomatix – HDR/Tonemapping
NIK Silver Efex Pro – BnW conversion (Red filter for day to night trick)
Sized for web
LightAsMagic.com
Tip: What my man Rick calls the ‘Ole day to night trick’ is applying a red filter (either in post, or at the time of capture) to your image which will basically render a blue sky black. I use this technique when I have a big, uninteresting, blue sky. If you have a white or lightish foreground element, it seems to work pretty well.
p.s. This image of a booming metropolis was from the little town of Cisco, UT.
A while back I wrote a piece about what I call ‘Creative Scheduling’, if you missed the post, you can read it here. The basic idea is that like anything in life we have limited time to do everything we want to, and creativity is no different. We need to make room for it in our schedules. This image is from one of those appointments I had with creativity. A couple weekends back I mentioned that my good friend Fred and I planned an entire day around the adventure of making images. We started at 5:30am, and were back home by 8:00pm. We left the house with nothing more than snacks, a map, and a lot of glass. Although it was an incredible day, and I will probably never forget it, by no means do you need to set aside a full day. Just ensure you are making time for your creative self, you never know what you might discover! Here I was hoping to discover a Gatorade. They weren’t open, so I decided to grab a refreshing serving of fisheye lens flare and chromatic aberration.
Capture Notes:
Nikon D300
Nikkor 10.5 DF Fisheye
Gitzo Traveler
Aperture: f/8.0
Focal Length: 10.5 mm
ISO Speed: 200
Processing Notes:
Capture (11 images @ 1ev anchor, 4 above, and 6 below)
Photomatix – HDR/Tonemapping
Noiseware – noise reduction
Photoshop – Global curves adjustment
Nik Color Efex Pro – Tonal Contrast (just a touch to the bricks)
Small crop on the left (I think I could have avoided it had I paid more attention to the composition)
Sized For Web
LightAsMagic.com
Golf Tip: After today’s season opening round of golf, I learned you drive, mulligan, drive again, rescue-wood, short iron, and pitch for show. You putt for dough!
This image was made between the ghost town of Cisco and Moab, UT along the scenic byway. We have traveled this road many times, and each time it provides us with something unique. My first time near this location I was riding my bike and stopped to take a break when a woman, who came out of no where, began to tell us a story of how years ago she was attacked by a man wielding a hatchet. After telling us the story, she showed us the scar and wondered off into the desert. Sure, I was tired after a long bike ride, but the experience was so bizarre that I often wonder if I met a ghost? This year, while driving past here, I was on the lookout for the ghost of the ‘Hatchet Lady’. My wife spotted this abandoned gas pump and suggested we pull over to make some images. The coast was clear and I bracketed a few compositions. The image is a bit soft, but I was rushing to get out of there in case ‘my friend’ decided to show up.
Capture Notes:
Nikon D300
Nikkor 17-35 AFS
Nikon CPLII
Gitzo Traveler
Aperture:f/4.0
Focal Length:26 mm
ISO Speed:200
Processing Notes:
Capture (9 images @ 1ev)
NX2 Raw Conversion
Photomatix – HDR/Tonemapping
Noiseware – noise reduction (landscape preset)
Nik Color Efex Pro – ProContrast
Nik Color Efex Pro -Tonal Contrast (selective to pump)
Nik Color Efex Pro – Vignette selective to the bottom and right
Sized for web
Nik Sharpener 2.0 – Display 40% selective to pump
LightAsMagic.com
Songs For Post Processing: Here is June’s recommended songs for post processing. This month I decided to pay tribute to one of Denver CO’s greatest bands, Sixteen Horsepower! Growing up they were more myth than reality. Before I was old enough to see them at a bar, I would sit outside the clubs hoping to catch a listen.They are storied band, with a long history, and these songs will never do them justice. You will at least get a taste of the Denver music scene, but to truly understand the genius of Sixteen Horsepower, you need to see them live. I intended the play-list to be 16 songs long, however iTunes only accepted 9 of my suggestions.
(Just click the image below to load the suggested playlist into iTunes).
In today’s litigious society it makes sense to post a sign to save us from ourselves. However, even if I was (were?) a smoker, I’m pretty sure a reminder not to smoke around oil and gas holding tanks might be a bit much. We should consult legal counsel on this. Rick, any thoughts?
Capture Notes:
Nikon D300
Nikkor 17-35 AFS
Nikon CPLII
Gitzo Traveler
Aperture: f/4.0
Focal Length: 20 mm
ISO Speed: 200
Processing Notes:
Capture (9 Images @ 1EV)
Photomatix – HDR/Tonemapping
Noiseware – Noise reduction
Photoshop – Global curves adjustment
Nik Color Efex Pro – Glamour Glow
Sized For Web
LightAsMagic.com
At the beginning of the day, my buddy Fred was excited to pull over and explore the local fertilizer plants with me. 15 hours later, “Hey, there’s a fertilizer plant, let’s go photograph it.” became an inside joke.
Capture Notes:
Nikon D300
Nikkor 50mm 1.4 AFS (a new lens in my kit…and boy do I like it!)
Exposure: 0.002 sec (1/500)
Aperture: f/16.0
Focal Length: 50 mm
Exposure Bias: -2/3 EV
ISO Speed: 200
Processing Notes:
Capture (1 image)
Adobe Camera Raw – Raw processing
Photoshop – Curves adjustment (easy to set the white and black points)
Sized for web
Nik Sharpener – Display 40% Adaptive
LightAsMagic.com
Tip: I call it ‘Working The Composition’. When you find something that catches your eye, don’t walk away from the first composition you make. Approach it from different angles, focal lengths, and perspectives. Eventually your subconscious will team up with your conscious self and reward you with an image to be proud of.
A day that started at 5:30am by making images of the Denver Skyline ended with a windy retreat from our primary objective. Oh yeah, somewhere in the middle, we found ourselves at an unsanctioned horse race.
My good friend Fred and I had been planning our assault on the Eastern Colorado prairie for over a month. Our plan consisted of two objectives. 1) If we are going to be up that early, don’t waste the sunrise. 2) Be at the Pawnee Buttes by sunset. What happens in the middle will be dictated by adventure. The day was filled with images of the forgotten west. It was the way you should spend more of your days. Simply leave your house with nothing more than good conversation and map (and lots of water if you are headed to the Pawnee Grasslands).
Capture Notes:
Nikon D300
Nikkor 17-35 AFS
Nikon 77mm CPL II
Gitzo Traveler
Processing Notes:
Capture (9 images @ 1ev)
NX2 Raw conversion
Photomatix HDR/Tonemapping
NIK Define 2.0 – Noise Reduction
Nik Color Efex Pro – ProContrast
Nik Color Efex Pro – Tonal Contrast selective to wood
Photoshop – Vibrancy/Saturation adjustment selective to grass and sky
Photoshop – straighten (attempted to level the horizon a bit)
Sized For Wed
LightAsMagic.com
I doubt the studios would have ‘green lighted’ such a show….Michael Landon starring as Gomez Adams? He was much better as Charles Ingalls.
I shot this image while we were filling up the truck at a gas station near Moab. It is amazing what you find when you have your camera with you. Cliff bar, 16 gallons of gas, and a lasting memory.
Capture Notes:
Nikon D300
Tokina ATX Pro 11-16
Gitzo Traveler
Aperture: f/8.0
Focal Length: 14 mm
ISO Speed: 200
Processing Notes:
Capture (9 Images @ 1ev)
Photomatix – HDR/Tonemapping
NIk Color Efex Pro – ProContrast
Nik Color Efex Pro – Glamour Glow
Nik Color Efex Pro – Glamour Glow
Photoshop – Channel Mixer Adjustment
Nik Define 2.0 – Noise Reduction
Sized For Web
LightAsMagic.com
Greetings! I have decided to post a quick intro to LightAsMagic.com. I will probably post this every quarter or so. That way all the new subscribers can catch up, and not feel as if they walked into the wrong movie theatre.
First of all, I would sincerely like to thank everyone that has visited LightAsMagic.com. This site has offered me the opportunity to meet a lot of talented and interesting folks. All of which continue to raise the bar of creative vision.
Secondly, I figured it would be a good idea to give you a brief overview of the site and its mission. Here on the site you can find everything ranging from my gear and video tutorials to reviews and travel guides. To stay up to date, there are several different methods you can use.
1) Bookmark the site and visit it – I try to post a new image, associated capture/processing notes, relevant tip, and the story behind the image 3-6 days a week. 6 in the winter when it is too cold to shoot. 3 in the summer because I am behind the camera more than the computer.
2) Subscribe by Email – If you choose to subscribe by email, you will receive an email the morning after I have posted something. If you like getting a photo and story delivered to your inbox several times a week, just follow the steps outlined here. Make sure you lookout for the double confirmation email that is sent. Your spam filter might grab it. If you don’t confirm, you won’t be subscribed.
3) Twitter – You can follow me on Twitter here. Like email, every time I post a new entry, a Tweet is sent out with a link to the post. Unlike email, I will Tweet on location images, inspiring or noteworthy links, and ‘Best of Day’ images from my iPhone. I occasionally ReTweet message from those that I follow. Also, I send out TweetUp notices inviting you to join me on a photo-walks. If you aren’t on Twitter, you can just look at the bottom of the right hand column of the site to see my most recent messages.
4) RSS – Like any other blog, you can add LightAsMagic.com to your favorite blog reader and get access to the new content when it is posted.
The mission of LightAsMagic.com is simple; Actively seek out and share creative inspiration through photography. It could be Black & White, Portrait, HDR, Landscape, iPhone….you name it. Better yet, let’s not name it. Let’s just call it photography. I am an equal opportunity creativist and I believe in the pursuit of photography. I feel that sharing what I find along the way might be able to help others realize their own vision. Others have helped, and continue to help me, so I hope that I can return the cosmic favor.
Other than the daily(ish) posts, there are a couple recurring items to watch out for.
1) Songs For Post Processing – I grew up planning visits to the local record store and I have played in bands my whole life (Spatula, Zizs, Gypsy Whistle, and A Band Called Jim). Music is a great source of inspiration for me. Every month I publish a recommend playlist of artists I feel are worth checking out. You can find my monthly playlists here.
2) iPhone Friday – First there was the wheel, then there was sliced bread, then there was the iPhone. I post the week’s collection of iPhone images every Friday. It is a great way to recap the week and get ready for the weekend. For most of my iPhone photography, I am photographer #15879 @ TheBestCamera.com and you can find me here.
3) Links (and the like) – On Friday I also like to add a couple of links to things of interest that I have found durning the week. It may or may not be photography related. Hopefully it serves the purpose of informing and inspiring.
That is probably enough “LightAsMagic.com 101″ for now. However, feel free to contact me if you have any other questions. I try my best to respond as quickly as I can.
Again, THANK YOU for choosing to follow the site. It is your feedback that continues to push my own creative vision. I hope that I am able to return the favor.
p.s. Please excuse the typos, and be warned, I abuse commas.
Capture Notes:
Nikon D300
Nikkor 17-35 AFS
Gitzo Traveler
Aperture: f/4.0
Focal Length: 35 mm
ISO Speed: 200
Processing Notes:
Capture (9 images @ 1ev)
NX2 Raw Conversion
Photomatix – HDR/Tonemapping
Nik Color Efex Pro – Tontal Contrast selective to walls
Photoshop – A couple selective curves adjustments
Photoshop – Vibrancy boost to window view
Sized for web
LightAsMagic.com
What good is a trip to the desert without images of grand vistas? I easily could have spent my entire weekend shooting the small, abandoned town of Cisco. However, there is so much more to see n’ do in Moab. Thankfully, it is only a 5-8 hour drive depending on if you visit the wineries in Palisade to pick up some fresh honey and mead for your friends back home. If you are ever visiting Moab, and driving in from the east, make sure to take the scenic byway along the CO river. Some argue it is longer, but I think it is nearly equal in distance and will provide you with some incredible images. Just make sure you add a bit of stoppage time to your plan. You will need it!
This image was made while we did a short hike down from the Canyon Lands plateau to the valley floor. I believe the trail was called Murphy’s Overlook. Don’t quote me on that, but if you are interested feel free to email me and I will confirm it. It felt so incredible to be standing in such a magnificent spot, surrounded by friends, and shooting with my favorite lens of all time, the Nikkor 17-35 AFS. Heaven on earth for a photographer.
When I get a second, I will put together a Moab resource page and add it to the Travel Guides section of the site. Let me know if there is anything specifically you would like me to include.
Songs For Post Processing – The May Playlist is published. I announced it a day late on Twitter, but it has finally made it to a post. I hope you like it. There is quite a bit of variety this month, but all of it is good. (Just click the image below, it will fire up your iTunes, and you can take a listen.)
Capture Notes:
Nikon D300
Nikkor 17-35 AFS
Nikon CPL II (circular polarizer)
Gitzo Traveler
Aperture: f/8.0
Focal Length: 35 mm
ISO Speed: 200
Processing Notes:
Capture – 9 images @ 1EV
Photomatix – HDR/Tonemapping
Nik Color Efex Pro – ProContrast
Nik Define 2.0 – Automatic noise profile
Sized for web
Nik Sharpener – Display output defaults
Tip: Lately, I have have been shooting all my images and applying the in camera VIVID picture control. That way, when they pop up on my LCD, they are rich with contrast and color. It really peaks your interest and stirs the creative muse. Later, if you don’t like it, you can just change it during the RAW conversion. Just make sure that you are shooting in RAW, and not JPG. Otherwise you won’t be able to change it in post.
The weather was beautiful, the scenery was surreal, and I was able to visit the small town of Cisco, UT. What more could a photographer ask for while spending the weekend in Moab, UT. Cisco has been on my radar for the last 16 years or so. Ever since I visited it for the first time back in 94. I’m still confused as to what goes on there? The distinction between public and private land is nothing more than the spray painted walls of a building. This building did not have the words ‘Private Property’ painted on it, so I thought it was safe (or at least legal) to enter. I confirmed my last tetnus shot, tried to avoid any encounters with the locals, bracketed a couple images, and got the heck out.
News: Yesterday I was featured on fellow photographer Brian Matiash site. Brian was kind enough to ask me to provide the ‘Alt Perspective’ and share a couple images. Not only was it an honor to be asked, it was a pleasure to write. Please, take a second to jump over to Brian’s site to read the post.Make sure to take a look around at his incredible work.
http://brianmatiash.com/blog/2010/05/02/alt-perspective-justin-balog/
Capture Notes:
Nikon D300
Nikkor 17-35 AFS
Gitzo Traveler
Aperture: f/8.0
Focal Length: 17 mm
ISO Speed: 200
Processing Notes:
Capture (9 Images @ 1EV)
Photomatix – HDR/Tonemapping
Nik Silver Efex Pro – Wall and roof texture
Photoshop – 5 Selective curves adjustments
Size for web
LightAsMagic.com
Sorry for the quick post, but the weather is beautiful and I need to get back out to make some images.
Capture Notes:
Nikon D300
Nikkor 16-85 VR II
Gitzo Traveler
Aperture: f/11.0
Focal Length: 85 mm
ISO Speed: 200
Processing Notes:
Capture (9 images @ 1ev)
Photomatix (HDR/Tonemapping)
NIK Define (Noise reduction automatic profile)
Nik Color Efex Pro (Tonal contrast selective to the fence)
Photoshop (2 selective curves adjustments)
Sized for web
LightAsMagic.com
In preparation for my guest blog post on my fellow photographer and Urban HDR shooter, Brian Matiash’s website, I headed down to the rail yards. Paying attention to the sign, I laid my ear on the tracks listening for any approaching trains. When the coast was clear, I made my into position, quickly acquired focus, bracketed 9 frames, and fled the scene. Brain would probably want me back home typing as opposed to chasing images…but I promise, the text is well underway. Visit Brian’s site today for some incredible images, and in the near future to read my post “Looking Forward”.
To learn more about the use of selective curves, and other tips to help realize your creative vision, give the tutorials over at Chromasia.com a try.
Chromasia Photoshop Tutorials
Capture Notes:
Nikon D300
Nikkor 16-85 VRII
Gitzo Traveler
Aperture: f/5.6
Focal Length: 85 mm
ISO Speed: 200
Processing Notes:
Capture (9 Images @ 1EV)
NX2 Raw Conversion
Photomatix – HDR/Tonemapping
Noiseware – noise reduction (landscape profile)
NIK Sharpener – Selective to the sign (it was a bit soft)
Nik Color Efex Pro – Tonal contrast selective to foreground
Photoshop – (5 selective curves adjustments)
Size for web
LightAsMagic.com
The Book Cliffs are located just on the outskirts of Grand Junction CO. They face the Colorado National Monument. That puts the town of Grand Junction smack-dab in the middle of both, making it a landscape photographers dream destination.
I would like to get back there soon to spend an entire weekend working with these incredible mountains. This image was from a photo-walk sandwiched between a 5 hour mountain bike ride in the desert and some margaritas with the A-team.
Capture Notes:
Nikon D300
Nikkor 70-300 AFS VR II
Gitzo Traveler
Exposure: 0.001 sec (1/1000)
Aperture: f/5.0
Focal Length: 165 mm
ISO Speed:200
Processing Notes:
Capture (1 Image)
Photomatix (HDR/Tonemapping)
Nik Define 2.0 (Noise Reduction)
Nik Silver Efex Pro (B+W Conversion)
Sized for web
LightAsMagic.com
