Posts from the ‘Photography of Opportunity’ Category
If I were to ever record an album, I think I would use this image as the cover art. In college, when my band recorded a demo, the cover art was nothing more than contact information. Obviously my rock n’ roll fantasy didn’t work out. It sounds cliche, however my band fell victim to ‘creative differences’. I think we would have been a great band. I doubt we would have headlined a stadium rock show…..without question we would have opened for someone headlining a stadium rock show. Anyways, I added a page to the site where you can check out monthly playlists I have created to spread the word about bands I would have loved to open for. Click here to take a listen.
Capture Notes:
Nikon D300
Nikkor 16-85 VR II
Exposure: 1/4000 sec
Aperture: f/5.6
Focal Length: 85 mm
Processing Notes:
Capture
NIK Silver EFX Pro
NIK Color EFX Pro (Color Stylizer)
Photoshop (Resize for web)
LightAsMagic.com
After an arduous day of car shopping, we decided to take a quick break from wheelin’ and dealin’….I don’t think the sales guy wanted us to leave, but my wife made it pretty clear we were going to. Just down the road, we found this great old silo. It towered above the suburban sprawl that surrounded it. You felt he had stories to tell. Hopefully, I was able to help him tell it.
In the video below, we grant the Tin Man’s wish and give him a heart using Photomatix and NIK Define 2.0, Color EFX Pro, and Viveza 2.
Note: Email subscribers will need to visit the site to watch the video.
Capture Notes:
Nikon D300
Nikkor 16-85 VR II
Gitzo Traveler
Aperture: f/16.0
Focal Length: 16 mm
ISO Speed: 200
Processing Notes:
Capture (9 images)
NX2 (Raw –> TIFF conversion)
NIK Define 2.0 (Automatic entire image)
Photoshop (Global Curves adjustment)
NIK Color EFX Pro (Tonal Contrast selective to the silo)
NIK Color EFX Pro (Brilliance/Warmth selective to sky)
NIK Viveza 2 (Brighten to of the silo)
NIK Viveza 2 (Saturation and structure boost to sky)
Photoshop (Size for web)
NIK Sharpen (Display 40% output)
LightAsMagic.com
Processing Video:
An astronaut with a day off from space walks, research, and mission tasks might want to take a break from the daily regiment of Tang to enjoy a nice pinot or cab with their protein paste. A quick trip to the wine cellar module on the International Space Station could provide such luxuries to our orbiting scientists. Although currently not available, or scheduled for production, a wine cellar would be a nice addition to the space based bed and breakfast. However, if there were such a thing, I believe this might be the wine cellar they would visit.
As a bit of an impressionist I commonly take creative liberties to realize my vision. Feel free to watch the video below to see how I use Photomatix 3.2 and a couple of NIK filters to build a wine cellar suitable for international space travel.
Capture Notes:
Nikon D300
Nikkor 16-85 VRII
Gitzo Traveler
Markin Q3T ball head
Aperture: f/16.0
Focal Length: 16 mm
ISO Speed: 200
Processing Notes:
Capture (7 images)
NX2 (Raw Conversion)
Photomatix (HDR/Tonemapping)
NIK Define 2.0 (Noise reduction)
Photoshop (Curves adjustment – global contrast/color correction)
Nik Color EFX Pro (Glamour glow – desaturate)
NIK Color EFX Pro (Tonal Contrast)
Photoshop (size for web)
NIK Sharpener (Display adaptive 35% selectively applied to the wine bottles)
LightAsMagic.com
…or, if you have time, you can just watch the video (length: about 10mins).
To find out more about NIK Software and their suite of filters visit their website at:
To find out more about Photomatix 3.2 visit HDRSoft’s website at:
You can use the coupon code LIGHTASMAGIC to receive a 15% discount on Photomatix
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.
On occasion, you just want to fill the frame with something interesting and click. This one was one of those times. The waves of clouds lit by the rising sun made everything on the ground meaningless, so I pointed my camera to the sky and……click. From my camera to your computers, with nothing in between.
Nikon D300
Nikkor 16-85 VR II
Processing Notes
Capture
Aperture (Raw Conversion)
LightAsMagic.com
Tip: To achieve a silhouetted foreground and a brilliant backdrop, you want to set your camera to capture the appropriate exposure for the sky which will leave your foreground dark and detail-less. To do this you can set your camera to ’spot metering’ mode, and meter for the sky. If you don’t have spot metering capabilities, you can use exposure compensation by reducing the metered exposure by several stops. Try making a couple image and review them in your LCD until you like what you see.
I had already packed up from an evening photo walk and was heading back to my car when I saw this building staring up at the moon. I had to join in.
Nikon D300
Nikkor 16-85 VR II
Gitzo Traveler
Processing Notes:
Capture (9 images)
Photomatix (HDR/Tonemapping)
Photoshop (Levels adjustment)
NIK Sharpen (Display adaptive 30%)
LightAsMagic.com
Had I had my wits about me, I would have been posting an incredible image of a full moon rising above the Denver skyline. It was an amazing moonrise and the image was ready for the making. Missed it! Ah well, thanks to Ptolemy I will be ready next time. I noticed the moon sets tomorrow morning at 7:17am. Check back to see if I woke up in time!
Nikon D300
Nikkor 16-85 VRII
Gitzo Traveler / Markins Q3T Ballhead
Processing Notes:
Nik ColorEFX Pro (Bleach Bypass)
Nik Viveza 2 (CP Contrast/Structure Boost)
Photoshop (Resize)
Flickr
Reminder: Just a reminder, the Illuminate Workshops evening photo walk is next week (Feb 6th). I’m not affiliated with them, but I do like to support the local photography community. It is a great group of folks who photograph the town red! To find out more, just visit their website.
Telluride CO is to a landscape photographer, like a an exotic bird show is to a cat. Not only are the Grandscapes accessible, the food is great. This photo of the Bridal Veil House is a reminder for me to go back. Last time I was there I was mountain biking, hiking, and dining. I didn’t bring the photographer’s focus with me.
Nikon D1X
Nikkor 80-200 AFD 2.8
Processing:
Capture
Photoshop (Levels Adjustment)
Nik ColorEFX (Tonal Contrast)
Nik Sharpen (Display adaptive 30%)
Tip-A telephoto lens isn’t only good for bringing the subject closer to you, it is a great tool for bringing subjects closer together. Shooting images with a telephoto lens will provide the effect of compressing the elements of the image. It the above image, you can see this compression effect adds drama to the scene as the cliff appears to be imposing on the house.
A cold day of training reminded me of a tree I had been meaning to make an image of and I thought the storm behind it might do well for the backdrop. Nature’s studio cooperated. Sure, a bit dramatic, but after 5 hours of riding in the cold I felt dramatic!
Nikon D300
Nikkor 35mm 1.8
Gitzo Traveler
Processing Note:
Capture (7 images)
Photomatix (HDR Tonemapping)
Nik ColorEFX Pro (Bleach Bypass)
Nik Define 2.0 (Manual selectively applied to sky)
Photoshop (Crop Re-size)
Nik ColorEFX Pro (Vignette)
Nik Sharpener (Display adaptive selectively applied to tree and foreground)
LightAsMagic.com
Tip: I’m not sure if this necessarily falls under the category of a tip, but I had a friend of mine ask if I would write a bit more about my process. I wasn’t sure where to start, so I figured I would start with a concept I have decided to call ‘Creative Scheduling’. We are all busy doing everything but making art. That is one of life’s common denominators. My personal way of dealing with this is to schedule the creative process. It sounds crazy, but hopefully I can try to shed some light on it. I break my photography time into 4 broad categories.
- Photo Walks: These are times that I have set aside to grab my gear and throw myself into an environment. Just like meeting friends for dinner, or going to the doctor, the appointment is on the calendar.
- Photography of Opportunity: This is just a matter of being prepared. Put together a kit that your are comfortable taking with you wherever you go. It could be a small PointnShoot or an SLR with a select set of lenses. Just make sure it is portable enough that you like to have it around. That way, when the images show themselves, you are ready for them. Here is what I take.
- Travel: It is basically a blend of the above. When I am traveling I will conduct some forward recon on the net and schedule a couple of ‘Photo Walks’ during my vacation. The prior planning makes me very efficient when on location which still allows me plenty of time to hang out and relax with my family and friends. On vacation, I always have a Photography of Opportunity kit at the ready.
- Pre-Visioned: These are images that I have stumbled upon when I (or the image) wasn’t ready. These are things I see when I am out and about running, riding, or just too busy to stop. I will make note of these images and save them for later. In my mind’s eye I will try to imagine the ideal conditions for my vision. Then, when it fits into my schedule and the conditions are right, I will go make it happen.
Why use this post to describe my ‘Creative Scheduling’ process? Because it is an example of Pre-Visioning an image for later. I found this lone tree on a road I commonly ride and I knew that a southern storm would make the perfect backdrop for it. The storm arrived the same day I had to run an errand to the quarry. I grabbed my gear and stopped to make the image. Two minutes later I was back on the road, image in hand, and off to get some flagstone.
One from the archive. I made this image of a surfer hiking up from Black’s Beach in 2002 with my trusty D1X. Digital photography was in its infancy then, and the D1X was a big investment at the time. It has however proved to be an invaluable learning tool. The instant feedback digital photography provides you is critical to accelerating your learning curve. Nowadays, you can get some fantastic gear at a very reasonable price. I got my D1X back then from a great camera store in Indiana. I have never visited it, but every time I call to place an order I ask for Ed! If you are looking to establish a long term relationship with a camera store, let me recommend Roberts Imaging. When you call, ask for Ed and tell him Justin from Colorado sent you!
I was scared to setup my tripod at this overlook along Hwy 1. Actually, I was scared to get out of the car. The wind was howlin! My flapping clothes left me bruised. Whatever was over that hill was coming our way fast.
Processing Notes:
Capture
Nik SilverFX Pro (B&W Conversion)
Nik Sharpen (Display 30% adaptive w/ structure boost)
LightAsMagic.com
Nikon D300
Nikkor 60mm Micro
Tip: If you ever find yourself stuck in a dense fog bank along Hwy 1, thinking to yourself that this is hopeless. Don’t give up! Drive around the next bend. You might find a beautiful beach bathed in sunlight.
Remember that bakery I wrote about in a previous post? The one in Boston’s North End (that doesn’t sound right)? It is called Bova’s. Click the link to find out more about it: http://www.northendboston.com/bovabakery/
I wouldn’t be surprised if Paul Revere picked up a loaf of bread here prior to making his famous midnight ride. The bakery is a delightful stop for anyone walking (or warning of a British invasion) along Boston’s Freedom Trail.
Nikon D300
Nikkor 17-35 AFS
Processing Notes:
Capture (1 image)
Photomatix (pseudo hdr)
Photoshop (Levels adjustment)
NIK ColorEFX (Tonal Contrast boosted highlight/midtone contrast and saturation)
NIK Define 2.0 (Auto entire image)
NIK Sharpener (Display 35% adaptive sharpening)
Here is a sneak peek!
I made this image in the early morning hours on the grounds of the historic Broadmoor hotel in Colorado Springs. I sat quietly next to the shore until these swans felt comfortable with my presence. I was able to make several images of them until a mean spirited raccoon chased me away. I’m not sure if it is the mask, the sharp pointy teeth and claws, or the ‘Get off my land…’ look, but I packed up quickly when he started to head my way.
Nikon D300
Nikkor 16-85 VR II
Gitzo Travler
My first evening photo crawl with a great local photo group started out in high fashion. We met at a local pub/coffee shop in Denver, got a quick route briefing, and then headed out. I began the night by making the traditional expansive images of highway lights. However, my eye began to be drawn to the details along the footbridge we were crossing. Maybe it was my heightened focus or an unconscious interest in civil engineering. Either way I found a composition that inspired me. It was a fun evening and I look forward to joining them again next month.
I took my Flip MinoHD camera with me, and made a quick video. It is in my standard directing style, but this time I added a little ‘Holiday Bop’ to it.
Get the Flash Player to see this player.
Nikon D300
Nikkor 16-85 VR II
Gitzo Traveler
Processing:
Capture (1 image)
Adobe Raw (Temperature and fill light adjustment)
Nik ColorEFX Pro (Darken/Lighter Center)
Nik ColorEFX Pro (Tonal Contrast cut highlights/midtone contrast, boosted saturation and shadow contrast)
Photoshop (resized)
Nik Sharpener (Output for display)
LightAsMagic.com
If you are interested in the photo walk, or some great workshops you can find more information about them here:
Tip: When working at night I have found that I primarily shoot in Manual Mode and set my shutter speed to ‘Bulb’. I will make an educated guess at the time, make the image, review (chimp), and then adjust. If you are taking a 5 sec exposure, don’t worry if you accidentally shoot for 6 sec. To overexpose a 5 sec exposure by 1 stop, you will have to shoot a 10 sec exposure. Even with a generous margin for error while working at night with long exposures, you still might want to take a stopwatch. Also, you will need a steady tripod and a cable release. The cable release is optional, but it always use it.
Now that my favorite open space is covered in snow and frozen I have to look back on these images to remind myself that summer will return again. The winter solstice has passed and the days are getting longer. I am looking forward to my next hike/bike on mountain behind my house and the images that will inevitably be made. I guess I will need to dust off my snowshoes and head to the hills.
Nikon D300
Tokina 11-16 ATX Pro
Tip: In a previous tip I mentioned using a polarizer to reduce reflections on water. Polarizers are also a great filter to help bring out the brilliance in the sky. Just be careful when using them with wide angle lenses. Occasionally you will run into problems with unequal polarization effects.
