Posts from the ‘Photography of Opportunity’ Category
In today’s world of digital photography, it is easy to get caught up in the power of post processing, however, sometimes it’s just as fun to take your camera on a walk through the city.
Capture Notes:
Nikon D700
Nikkor 45mm PC-E
Hand held
Exposure 0.004 sec (1/250)
Aperture f/2.8
Focal Length 45 mm
ISO Speed 800
Processing Notes:
Set the 700’s picture control to Vivid
Post the .jpg
….no kidding, that simple!
A while back I was searching for a reasonable backup camera to travel with over the summer. After quite a bit of deliberation, I decided on the Nikon D5000. I have been putting it through the paces and I am quite pleased. Here is a simple capture from the camera while we were out on a drive over the weekend. I will be writing up a more formalish review of it shortly, as for now, here are a couple things I like about it.
- Same image guts as its big (D90) and bigger (D300s) brother.
- Quiet shutter mode. It helped when shooting some street photos in France. Very stealthy.
- It has video! I made a quick movie while I was in France that I am still editing. Once it is done I will post it along with a more detailed review.
- Super light and compact.
- You can get the same image quality of a D300s, for under $500 (if you are willing to buy refurbished).
- Swivel LCD – Much easier on the back when having to shoot in yoga poses.
We made our way from the Toulouse airport to our final destination in La Mongie, the clouds thickened as we gained elevation driving up the slopes of the Tourmalet. We were filled with anticipation knowing the summit of one of the most famous mountains in the Pyrenees was only a couple kilometers ahead. That anticipation would continue to grow throughout the night since the fog bank refused to provide us the greeting we were hoping for! Do you know how hard it is to find your hotel when you don’t speak French and the visibility is limited to 15ft?
Because I was stressed over European voltages, and scouring all my chargers hoping they would read 110-240v, I barely had time to schedule up a couple posts. Hand held high ISO at its finest!
Capture Notes:
Nikon D700
Sigma 15mm EX-D 2.8 Fisheye
Hand held
Processing Notes:
Adobe camera raw
Sized for web
LightAsMagic.com
I wasn’t exactly sure what to do with this one. It was the product of a “hey, go back, that looks kind of cool” moment. I’m not over the moon about the image. I think both the composition and processing has a bit to be desired, but what the heck, maybe someone else will find some inspiration in it. If that happens, mission accomplished. If not, at least you had a glimpse of something you might not have otherwise.
Capture Notes:
Nikon D300
Nikkor 16-85 VR II
Gitzo Traveler
Aperturef/4.2
Focal Length 26 mm
ISO Speed 400
Processing Notes:
Capture – 7 images @ 1ev
Photomatix – HDR/Tonemapping
Photoshop – Mask in the anchor trees
Photoshop – Curves adjustment
Sized for web
LightAsMagic.com
I hope you are enjoying the Tour as much as I am. After a week of all LA, all the time, I will get us back to our regularly scheduled programming.
Capture Notes:
Nikon D300
Tokina 11-16 ATX Pro
Gitzo Traveler
Processing Notes:
Capture – 7 Images @ 1ev
Photomatix – HDR/Tonemapping
Photoshop – Curves adjustment (Expanded midtones luminosity mask)
Photoshop – Channel mixer (B&W basic mid-tones luminosity mask mild opacity)
Sized for web
LightAsMagic.com
After a day of wrestling with a tool that a blacksmith might use to forge a Terminator, I’d be dammed if I wasn’t going to make some images when I returned it. If you ever need to remove tree stakes from your yard, rent the tool, it will save you 2 months of failed re-enactments of ’sword in the stone’. Leave that up to King Arthur.
Capture Notes:
Nikon D300
Tokina 11-16 ATX Pro
Gitzo Traveler
Processing Notes:
Capture – 7 images @ 1ev
Photomatix 3.2 – HDR/Tonemapping
Nik Define 2.0- Noise reduction
Nik Color Efex Pro – ProContrast
Nik Color Efex Pro – Glamour glow (slight desat)
Nik Color Efex Pro – Tonal Contrast (re-gain some contrast and definition)
Sized for web
Nik Sharpener – Display 40%
LightAsMagic.com
Here is a quick behind the scenes look at the kit in action.
Apparently my wife knows me all too well. We were running a couple errands today, when she spotted this old garage. She quickly told me to turn and said, “Those textures would make a great HDR image.” Sure enough, she was right!
With images like this, I like to back up a bit and shoot with a longer focal length. In this image, I positioned myself across the street and zoomed in a bit longer than what your eye would normally see. It is a nice effect if you have the room to operate.
We are still trying to determine if this place is abandoned or not? The porch light was on.
Capture Notes:
Nikon D300
Nikkor 16-85 VRII
Nikon CPLII
Gitzo Traveler
Aperture: f/11.0
Focal Length: 62 mm
ISO Speed: 400
Processing Notes:
Capture (9 images @ 1ev)
Photomatix – HDR/Tonemapping
Photoshop – Curves Adjustment
Sized For Web
LightAsMagic.com
When your good friend calls and asks “Are you getting this?!?!” You don’t ask what? You grab your camera a head out! That is exactly what happened last night. I got the call, grabbed my gear, and headed up the hill, realized I forgot CF cards, cursed like a sailor, headed back down the hill, ran into grab a my cards, startled my wife, headed back up the hill, and made some images!
Stay tuned for iPhone Friday tomorrow. I have a few new coupon codes to offer as well as a couple new features that I have added to the site. You can probably find them now, but I normally try to package all the news and notes into Friday’s post.
Capture Notes:
Nikon D300
Nikkor 16-85 VRII
Gitzo Traveler
Exposure: 18
Aperture: f/8.0
Focal Length: 16 mm
Exposure Bias: 0 EV
ISO Speed: 200
Processing Notes:
Capture (1 image)
Adobe Camera Raw – Process .NEF
Photoshop – Cropped a bit of the sky out.
Sized For Web
LigthAsMagic.com
After a 5 hour drive, 1 hour of which was being stuck in a traffic jam, we finally broke clear of the weather and horrible drivers. I tend to over hydrate while driving, so a quick break was in order. Boy, we couldn’t have picked a more beautiful location. I kicked off my flip-flops (we were in the desert 4 hours earlier), strapped on the boots, and grabbed my D300. Click, Click, Click….then off to the restroom!
Capture Notes:
Nikon D300
Nikkor 16-85 VR II
Gitzo Traveler
Focal Length: 70 mm
ISO Speed: 200
Processing Notes:
Capture (3 images @ 1ev)
Photomatix (HDR/Tonemapping)
Nik Sliver Efex Pro – BW Conversion and Vingette
Nik Color Efex Pro – Glamour Glow selective to water
Sized for web
LightAsMagic.com
Underprepared.
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
A rookie mistake left me in the middle of the desert without a SD card for my TZ4. Instead of heading down a path of negative self talk, I grabbed the iPhone out of my CamelBak and embraced the challenge. I found it to be incredibly liberating. No longer was I troubled with the decisions and gear that traditionally impact the tripod totin’ bracket-er. The entire weekend became an exercise in composition, vision, and creativity. Yes, I was tired and my legs were sore, but I don’t mean that kind of exercise. Having to create images with a single fixed tool, I was forced to change my focus. In doing so, I emerged from the desert with a stronger vision and my photographer’s dignity intact!
Just in case you don’t commonly scroll down to the ‘Great Eyes’ links, I thought it would be a good idea to highlight a couple new additions in a post.
You might know by now that I am pretty hip to the iPhone as a photographic tool. Sure, its flash sync speed has something to be desired (it doesn’t even have a flash), limited high ISO capabilities, no telephoto to speak of, doesn’t take filters (I’m actually working on that), its only 1.5 mega pixels, no aperture or shutter speed controls, etc, etc…. However, in the face of all that, I absolutely love it. That being said, I have decided to post my favorite pics from the week every Friday. I thought it might be a fun way to look back on the week and possibly stir up some creative juices going into the weekend. All these images were shot and edited within the iPhone using ‘The Best Camera’. If you are interested, you can find it in the app store by clicking the link. Hard to beat for $2.99.
Note: I might miss a day or two soon because I am headed to the desert. Don’t worry, I will have my iPhone + my landscape kit.
Lately I have had a bit of full frame/big glass envy. I have my kit, and I’m very happy with it. But there always seems to be something I would like to add or upgrade. At least for me, this desire (rationalized as an artistic need) is that fact that I don’t ever want to let an image get away. I want to be prepared, with the best possible toolset, for when ‘that’ image presents itself. It is when I find images like this, shot with a sub $150 camera, that I remind myself that its not about the gear, it’s about being there. There is no question that great gear will help, but it won’t help you if you aren’t out chasing it.
Capture Notes:
Panasonic TZ4
Processing Notes:
Capture (1 Image)
Nik Silver Efex Pro (High Structure Red Filter)
LightAsMagic.com
I went to shoot light and wine glasses, but the jazz was captivating. I had been introduced to Randy’s guitar playing before, so I knew the image was in ‘his hands’. I decided to shoot a really slow shutter, trying to capture the fulcrum of his finger in focus as the rest of his hand shook like a bird. His vibrato is stellar. I didn’t quite get it, but I got close. Close enough for Jazz. I will say I am looking (listening) forward to the next shoot.
If you are in the Denver area, you can catch Randy’s playing over a glass of wine here on Sunday nights.
http://www.indulgewinebar.com/
Or, you can visit his web site here:
Capture Notes:
Nikon D300
Nikkor 35mm 1.8 DX AFS
Exposure: 0.125 sec (1/8)
Aperture: f/2.0
Focal Length: 35 mm
ISO Speed: 800
Exposure Bias: 0 EV
Flash: No Flash
Processing Notes:
Capture (1 image)
Aperture 3 (High Contrast Grade 5 B&W Preset)
Export for web
LightAsMagic.com
Tip: As a photographer, you get opportunities to engage people in a different way. One thing to live by, and this is a lesson I learned from an early mentor, is if you make an image of someone, and you promise them a look, make sure you get them a print or an email. It will make their day and it’s generally a nice thing to do.
