Our adventure seemed liked it only started yesterday. However, tonight is the end of an trip that spanned thousands of miles over 12 days. The adventure began in Alaska with a visit to Denali National park and ended with a relaxing weekend in my new favorite city, Vancouver. In the middle was a cruise to celebrate my folks’ 40th wedding anniversary (Congrats team!). There are gigs worth of images and several great stories to tell over the coming months. Look for a week’s worth of posts that will tell the story of our flight to Denali and the landing on a glacier at its base. Personally, I am having a hard time waiting on that one. I can’t wait to share it with you! For now, I wanted to share an image from the beginning of the adventure, our trip into Denali National park by bus. If you ever have the chance to visit this park, take it. It is an incredible place. If you do visit, I have two tips for you. 1) Expect bad weather. That way you aren’t too bummed out when the clouds shroud Denali. Only 30 percent of the folks that visit actually see the mountain. Don’t worry, there is still an incredible amount of wildlife to experience. We saw 6 grizzlies over the course of our trip. This leads me to my second tip. 2) Bring long fast glass!

Capture Notes:

Nikon D700
Nikkor 80-200 AFD
Lexar UDMA

Processing Notes:

Capture – 1 image
Sized for web
LightAsMagic.com

I was excited when Topaz Labs announced (official release date is Monday Aug. 2nd) an update to their DeNoise tool. I use several Topaz Lab tools, including Adjust and Detail, quite a bit in my workflow, but I rarely used previous versions of DeNoise. However, when they announced DeNoise 5, I thought I would give it a run. Normally, if my image requires any noise reduction, I usually preform it right after generating the HDR/Tonemapped image and prior to any Photoshop work. In this image, after generating the HDR/Tonemapped .tiff, I brought it into photoshop, duplicated the base layer, and ran DeNoise 5 against it. Here is a quick list of things I found.

• Presets – I like software that offers its users a good starting point. Topaz DeNoise offers a couple of .jpg and RAW presets. In this image (a 16bit .tiff) I started off with the ‘RAW – Moderate’ preset. From there I experimented with a couple sliders and quickly found a level of noise reduction I was happy with.
• Ease of Use – The new DeNoise 5 interface follows the most recent release of of the product suite. It seems pretty straight forward, and ease to dial in.
• Preview Click – Like many tools, DeNoise allows you to click the image while you are making adjustments to quickly toggle between the original and processed images. This makes dialing in the settings you want a breeze.
• Speed – I’m not a numbers guy, but it seemed pretty quick.

Here is the before image:

Before

Here is the after image: (the volume control is not a feature. I was adjusting the background tunes)

After

This image had quite a bit of Noise in the sky. DeNoise 5 handled it pretty nicely, without much processing fuss. I have always liked Topaz products because of their power and price point. DeNoise 5 seems to be a welcome upgrade to their suite of products.

You can find out more about Topaz Labs and their entire suite of products here:

http://www.topazlabs.com/denoise/

Give the 30 day trial a run and see what you think. If you decide to buy it, you can use the coupon code LIGHTASMAGIC to receive a 15 percent discount on any purchase form Topaz Labs.

About the image: I made this image in the Spring along the scenic-byway between Cisco and Moab, UT. I have mentioned it before, but if you are ever driving west to Moab, don’t let people talk you out of taking the slightly longer drive. It is well worth the extra couple of minutes.

Capture Notes:

Nikon D300
Nikkor 80-200 AFD
Gitzo Traveler
Lexar UDMA Film

Processing Notes:

Capture – 7 images @ 1ev
Photomatix – HDR/Tonemapping
Topaz Labs DeNoise 5 – Noise reduction
Photoshop – Curves adjustment (2x)
Sized For Web
LightAsMagic.com

The Tour is coming to a close, but not before World Time Trial Champion Fabian Cancellara puts his stamp on the final time trail.

Capture Notes:

Nikon D700
Nikkor 80-200 AFD

Exposure1/5000 sec
Aperturef/2.8
Focal Length200 mm
ISO Speed200
Exposure Bias0 EV
FlashNo Flash

Processing Notes:

Capture
Adobe Camera Raw
Nik Viveza 2
Nik Color Efex Pro 3.0 – Tonal Contrast filter (sliders at 5%)
Sized for web
LightAsMagic.com

Tip: Make sure you remember that the final riders in the Tour de France time trial, leave at 3:00min intervals, as opposed to 1:00min intervals. It will surely help with your planning.

It was the final time trial of the 2004 Tour de France. I had be lugging around a Nikon 80-200 AFD for the last week, just hoping for one great image of Lance. The Mona Lisa (dropping the hammer) of my cycling photography career. I didn’t have media access at the tour, but I wasn’t going to let that stop me. On the previous mountain stages, I was too busy being a super fan to focus on photography. I dressed in all yellow and tried to run along side of the peloton waving a yellow flag made from a queen sized bed sheet with the number 6 spay painted on it. I say I tried because after carrying that sheet on the plane, packing it around the French country side, and finally getting into position to run with the leaders….I chickened out under the pressure. Visions of crashing Lance, and being solely responsible for his 1st tour loss, haunted me. My dream of running along side Lance waving a oversized banner of support and being broadcast across the world ended with me hanging my flag in a tree and politely clapping as he rode by. Bad for me, but in the long run, good for Lance.

Anyways, back to the photo. I knew that without media access, the one shot I had at making an image of Lance in the tour was the individual time trial. The start/finish is always too crowded for a decent photo. I knew I had to be on the course. After a quick map reconnaissance, I decided a round-a-bout 2km from the finish was going to be my best position. Setting out in torrential rain, I found my spot and waited…waited…and waited some more. As riders past, I would refer to the start list to see where we were in the race. Hincapie….Kloden…..Basso…..all the big names were rolling by. Another minute or two and Lance would be headed right at me. Sure enough, the next rider to fill my view finder was Lance Armstrong. They say, when you wear the yellow jersey, you ride with the strength of 10 men. When the yellow jersey fills your viewfinder, it takes all your focus (pun intended) and experience to walk away with an image. I don’t know if I will ever make an image like this again. An image where you have spent an entire year preparing, with only a single second to make it. I will be there again this year, lets just hope Lance is in yellow when he fills the viewfinder!

I hope you have enjoyed the images of Lance leading up to this years Tour. It will be an epic battle, fought on the high mountains of France. Whether Lance wins on not, he is ready, and riding for all of us. Please help to support him though your support of the Live Strong Foundation.

Good luck Lance!

If this isn’t the definition of living strong, I’m not sure what is. Another image from the New York City Criterium in 2002. It was rare site to see a Tour de France champion racing what was essentially a domestic industrial park crit, but Lance was there, mixing it up with the best of them. I wouldn’t say he was out of his element either. His element is aerobic competition in whatever form he can find it. I’m looking forward to a possible run at an Ironman from him. 2 days left until the tour!

Tip: Before you attempt a high speed panning shot of one of your heros, get to the race early and practice your rhythm and technique before it is game time.

Following Lance Armstrong’s tweet today, announcing that this will be his final Tour de France, I decided to pay tribute to him by dedicating the entire week leading up to the tour to the man, the myth, the legend. This image is from the New York Criterium in 2002. The race itself took place on Wall Street. I will never forget seeing the streets of NY shut down, only to see a cycling legend take the stage. It was a spectacle that those who were in attendance will never forget. Our country was still recovering, and Lance did what he could to answer the call. Over the next week I will share more stories, images, and Tour predictions. Until then, Lance, good luck in the Tour. We are all pulling for you!

Capture Notes:

Nikon D1X
Nikkor 80-200 AFD
Nikon SB-80 DX

Processing Notes:

Capture – 1 Image
Adobe Camera Raw
Sized for web
LightAsMagic.com

Tip: A technique I commonly used to isolate my subject when shooting sports events was to set my flash to +1EV, and my camera to -1EV. That way your background would be a bit darker than the subject in the foreground. It worked to give your image a little extra pop.

Another addition to my on going Spaceship Suburbia project. I thought I would try and capture a “Cloud City Scape” by shooting a busy scene full of the non-traditional. This was a sunrise shoot on the outskirts of Denver. When I pulled the camera to my eye, I was sucked into the depth and variety of the shapes and shadows. I thought it would make a good addition to the project.

Answering The Call! A big Thank You is in order to all those that took the time to help me with my dilemma. I am truly thankful for the amount of time those that answered my Canon/Nikon SOS put into their responses. I am also humbled by the quality of photographers that visit LightAsMagic.com. I made my way to all your websites and photostreams, and I am inspired by your work. It is obvious by your responses that Canon is indeed a great company. But there is also something said about familiarity. There is a lot to digest, and I will take some time tomorrow to revisit all the comments and post a reply to everyone. Thanks again! Heck, even my wife and mother-in-law chimed in. If you go back and read the comments I am sure you will find the wonderful humorous perspective my wife added to the discussion. Let it be know my mother-in-law voted in favor of Nikon. Her vote counts double. I will keep you posted on my final decision and the reasoning behind it.

Capture Notes:

Nikon D300
Nikkor 80-200 AFD
Gitzo Traveler

Processing Notes:

Capture 1 Image
Adobe camera raw
Photoshop Contrast/Sat boost
Sized for web
LightAsMagic.com

Tip: When I am trying to create a silhouette in an image, I will switch my camera’s meter to spot meter mode and meter an area that is pretty bright, but not the source of the light. In this scene this happened to be the area of the sky close to the horizon. After I have meter that area I will the lock the exposure, or make a note of it and reset it when I recompose. At that point, I will be shoot a couple of frames and review the images. You can rides you exposure compensation to quickly choke or expand the shadow areas.

Lately I have been beating up my ‘photographic self’. I am bit frustrated creatively. Sure, I discover images while I am traveling, I throw myself into unknown situations to see what my creative self can do, and I consistently try to improve myself as a photographer. However, I haven’t had a project to focus on. I’m not pre-visioning my images. I’m not actively creating images in my mind, prior to discovering them. In the face of this lull, I decided to assign myself a project. If I wasn’t going to do it, no one else was. What did I come up with? I call it Spaceship Suburbia. The goal, to morph the everyday into images from the Cloud City. I’m not expecting a Pulitzer, or a show at the Guggenheim. I’m just hoping to have a bit of fun and force myself to translate what is in my head to a .TIFF. Wish me luck!

Here is my first image from the new project. To capture it, I deployed my stability system, mounted an 80-200mm light refractorer (made up space word), and set my white balance to stun (err…incandescent).

News: Remember the Heart and Lung benefit show this Friday night. Feel free to drop me an email if you have any questions. It is for a great cause!

Capture Notes:

Nikon D300
Nikkor 80-200 AFD
Gitzo Traveler

Processing Notes:

In an effort to expose myself to new techniques, I decided to give a fellow Flickrer’s tutorial a try. It worked out pretty good.

You can find it here.

Thanks! jfdpl686

I am a sunset guy, and I love them all. However, there are 3 sunsets in my life that I will always remember. One while driving through Idaho on my way back from Oregon, another with my wife while we were walking through the marina in Xtapa, and this one. I had a camera with me for two of them. Not bad! What fascinates me about sunsets is the fact that I don’t remember visual details, I just remember experiencing something greater than myself. I know the one that I witnessed in Idaho was so powerful I had to pull over and sit down on the side of the highway to watch it. I didn’t even wait for an exit ramp. I couldn’t tell you what color it was, or how long it lasted. I just know it moved me. The only reason I remember the one in Xtapa was pink was because I had my camera. This one, from my Uncle’s farm in southern Nebraska, has many fond memories associated with it.

Nikon D1x
Nikkor 80-200 2.8 D

Exposure: 0.003 sec (1/400)
Aperture: f/2.8
Focal Length: 200 mm
Exposure Bias: 0 EV
ISO Speed: 800

Processing Notes:
Capture
Adobe Camera Raw
Photoshop (Curves Adjustment)
Photoshop (Vibrance/Saturation slight boost)
LightAsMagic.com

By no means do I consider myself a wildlife photographer, I don’t have the patience for it. If you want to see great wildlife photography visit Moose Peterson’s site. His name says it all. I discovered this little fox, along with his brothers and sisters, on my way to the post office. I had my camera with me and thought I would try my hand at ‘Dancing with Wolves’. After a deliberately slow approach, I settled into a seated position and waited. I would yawn, blink, look away, etc; Everything you might learn from watching episodes of the Dog Whisperer. The one thing I didn’t do was immediately start shooting. After about 20 minutes, a reluctant mom let her kits out of the den. She didn’t let them walk up and sniff me, but they were allowed to make eye contact and observe me from a distance. I stayed there as long as a 1 gig CF card would let me (in 2002 that was a boat load of memory). Actually, I stayed a bit longer than that. It was an experience I will always remember.

Nikon D1x
Nikkor 80-200 2.8 AFD

Processing Notes
Capture
Photoshop (Curves Adjustment)
NIK (Sharpen selective to the eyes)
LightAsMagic.com

Tip: In a situation like this you might be tempted to open your lens up as wide as it will go to try and soften the background and emphasize your subject. However, at 2.8 in this case I was barely able to get the eyes in focus if I was focusing on the bridge of their noses. I think f/3.2 – 4 might have been a better choice.