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.

Capture Notes:

Nikon D5000
Nikkor 16-85 VR II

Processing Notes:

Capture – 1 Image
Nik Silver Efex Pro (B&W Conversion)
Sized For Web
LightAsMagic.com

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?

Capture Notes:

Nikon D700
Nikkor 45mm PC-E
Hand held

Exposure 1/3200 sec
Aperture f/2.8
Focal Length 45 mm
ISO Speed 200
Exposure Bias -1/3 EV

Processing Notes:

Capture 1 image
Adobe Camera Raw
Sized for web
LightAsMagic.com

Tip: When using a perspective control lens, you can either meter the exposure (make sure to record the results) then shift/tilt the lens, or, if you are in the moment, you can ride the exposure compensation dial as you review the histogram. Personally, I use the later technique because I don’t want to be bothered with having to position the lens in a neutral state every time I want to recompose. Stay tuned for more details about this seemingly complex, yet simple to use creative tool!

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.