Just a quick blog entry to say spring is here. I have been keeping busy, but I will add an entry soon that describes how the previous blog images were created. I will tell you that the last image in “More Anticipation” is a big clue and the camera was only moved in one image – the last one in the “In Anticipation of Spring” set.
I haven’t seen any guesses or inquiries as to how these were made so I thought I would share a few more images shot with the same set of tulips and props.
As with the previous images, no paint programs, etc were used. Just in camera techniques with props.
Any questions?
While I was waiting for the rain to stop yesterday, I decided to do an indoor shoot of some tulips – ones that I bought for my wife earlier in the week. While you might think I used all kinds of software for these special effects, these were all created in camera using technique and props. The only Photoshop usage was for the usual tonal/contrast adjustments, touch up (dust), etc. No paint programs, Topaz, Photomatix, etc.
Part of my purpose in creating these images was to encourage those of you who may not have the latest greatest photo processing software. Don’t say “someday when I have such and such”, but use your imagination today and the tools you have. 
Now I am going to do something different here and let you use your imagination to guess what techniques I applied to create these images. Submit your ideas using the blog comment feature. I will tell all in a few days. 
Hint: Some images did take advantage of the in camera overlay capabilities of my Nikon D300 (a D80 can do this as well). But if your camera can’t do that you can use layers in a low cost program like Photoshop Elements.
As I continue to write in my blog, you can find images any where. In this case I was sitting in a parking lot getting a quick bite to eat after work before heading to another engagement. As night came on I first noticed how the texture in pine tree bark outside my windshield was being highlighted by oblique lighting. After shooting bark for a while I started playing with pans and swipes of the bare deciduous trees.
On a separate night in the parking lot waiting for a movie with my wife we both noticed how the trees were illuminated in the fog by the parking lot lamps. In addition, a full moon was shining through the fog (but no detail). This is the lead blog image.
So when the day is done, get out that camera and have some fun.
About the images: all these images required relatively long exposures (1 to 15 seconds at ISO 800) and were shot on a tripod as required (not for swipes). The unique colorations are due to the different light sources (I only partially adjusted the white balance). The camera’s noise reduction for long exposures was also turned on.
Well I finally got out to do a little shooting this past weekend. The main subject I came across was an old dilapidated truck. Great subject for some nitty-gritty HDR images. While there were other vehicles, I choose to really work this vehicle. I have included three of the images here in the blog. As usual these have all been processed in Photomatix (grunge look) and processed further in Photoshop using Nik Software pluggins. The top blog image is a bit different in that it is composed of a multiply blend of a high structure BW image (ala SilvreEfx Pro) and the color image – gives it a real gritty look. Also note that I chose to break a rule and let the horizon line in the background be tilted. Keeping the background out of focus made this less of an issue so I could add the dynamic tilt to the truck.
Which one do you like best?
You may look at the title and wonder if you are on the right photography blog, but you are. This blog is more on the business/relationship side of photography than the art side. Sooner or later if you are out shooting a lot you will have an “accident”. They hit when you least expect it. For example, last year I was done with a shoot one day walking on the shoulder of the road back to my vehicle and suddenly my feet started slipping on some loose gravel and down I went, camera, lens and tripod. While the tripod and camera got a couple scratches the lens took the brunt of it (and so did I). You get a wonderful sinking feeling about how much this is going to cost (after you get past the shock and pain). Time to visit the camera repair person.
This brings me to the title subject. Over the years I have been fortunate to find a good local camera repair shop. I have had them clean sensors, repair lenses and cameras, etc. They have always done good work, given me the repair options vs. cost and guaranteed their work for 1 year. But it wasn’t until yesterday that I realized one of their greatest values.
When picking up a lens from an inspection yesterday I had the opportunity to just talk and ask questions of the owner who had inspected the lens. The more I talked with him the more I began to realize the wealth of knowledge and skills he possessed after a couple of decades in his business. He knew details about lots of lens, compatibility issues, which were best, how they might fail and what it would cost – just good practical knowledge that I usually look up on the internet. The big difference was that I could ask follow-up questions, get opinions on tradeoffs, etc. I also found out he offered services that I never even thought of but could have used (and will use).
In this age of the internet, it can be easy to overlook the wealth of knowledge and skills that might be next door. So take the time to talk with your local camera shop or repair shop owner. You might be surprised what you can find out.
If you don’t have a local repair shop let me recommend Advance Camera Repair, they do great work for reasonable cost and the service photographers all other the US.
Blog image: Just thought I would throw in another train image that I am submitting for a calendar. HDR double processed with the headlamp turned on courtesy of Nik Viveza.
I haven’t been able to get out and shoot lately so I decided I would share a couple images from another body of work I have been working on and will continue with in the coming year. They are a series of early morning light images of birds and water fowl in motion. They have been captured at relatively low shutter speeds (1/8 to 1/4 sec) and in some cases I have used an on camera flash set to rear curtain mode at full power. What does that mean? It means that flash doesn’t fire until the end of the time the shutter is open. This combined with loose panning creates a very interesting effect as you can see in the first blog image. Simple soft backgrounds are another common characteristic of these images. Note that it does need to be pre-sunrise light in order to shot at the slow shutter speeds and have any impact with a flash. Hope you like them.
I have been reading,”Within the Frame“, by David duChemin. In the 3rd chapter “The Artist and the Geek” he touches on the duality that exists within the photographer. The photographer must both be an artist and a geek. He points out that it is easy, if we are not careful, for us to slip out of balance and drift to one extreme or the other. The geek can become more concerned with the gear and how to make technically perfect images than the why and what we photograph. On the other hand the artist can become enamored with the idea of the creative process and loose site of the final image and throw aside technique. Where an individual drifts is dependent on their innate nature: artist or geek.
Once identified the photographer can consciously take steps to keep their balance. For example, a geek might do an exercise where they only take a manual camera, one lens and learn to express themselves with the simplest of equipment (no Photoshop either). An artist might take a nuts and bolts class on using layers in Photoshop which might be quite painful for them. Hopefully you get the picture.
I know for me my natural leaning is to be a geek. However, when I stepped into digital photography years ago I knew that about myself and have purposely focused most of my reading and training on the creative/artist side. In addition, because of my background in computer design, I wanted my move into photography to allow my creative/artistic side (which has always been there) to be more fully expressed. Due to this book and other blog discussions, I will also be trying out some exercises that I will share with you in future blogs.
So where is your leaning? Artist or Geek? Are you maintaining balance? How can you correct it if you are not.
Blog images: Given the topic of this blog I decided to include an image that expresses my artistic side using technical skill. In this train passenger car image I wanted to express the sense of loss and nostalgia I feel for the old passenger train lines of the past. On the technical side, to realize this image I took advantage of several post processing tools including Photomatix (for the HDR base image), NikSoft’s ColorEfx Pro, SliverEfx Pro bushed in with a bit of Photoshop’s Liquify. I have also included a second image from my train work using most of these same tools.
I was reminded this past weekend that it is easy to forget about one of the avenues we have for nature photography – our local parks. My wife and I went hiking in a park that is only about 20 minutes away from our house. It is a beautiful park with a lake surrounded by mountain foothills, multi-colored meadow grasses and water foul. I have not been there for years and for some reason it hadn’t occurred to me to go there for a shoot recently. It must be that familiarity thing. While I didn’t really take many images, I did take the opportunity to visually scout for a future shoot – I know I will go back.
Think about, where are some places around your home that maybe you used to visit (possible before you took up photography) but just haven’t thought of in a long time.
Blog image: This picture was captured on the meandering drive back home as we moved into the last light of the day. The softness of the vines brushed by the evening light was just delightful.
PRINTS FOR SALE: Just a reminder that I have started selling special edition prints on my website.
I have been busy this week getting eCommerce setup on my primary website which has kept me from blogging. While the website tool I have been using, LRG Complete, supports eCommerce, there is still a bit to get setup and tested. There is basic print pricing structure, shipping and handling price models, Paypal accounts, etc. to setup. So after playing in my PayPal Sandbox I am ready to officially offer a small set of Special Edition prints. I have selected a subset of my Autumn Immersions portfolio for this initial offering. The initial prints are archival quality 6″x9″ prints that have been initialed by me and mounted in 11×14 acid free mats. I will be adding larger sizes and “Limited Edition” prints in the near future. For a mere $30 plus shipping and handling and can own one of these images. Sorry for the shameless self-promotion, but hey I am trying to run a business. To order go to my website and first read the directions found under the ‘Purchase’ tab. You can place the order via PayPal or email (to pay by check).
The opening blog image is from the Autumn Immersions offering. If you click on it you can go directly to the Autumn Immersions gallery. Some of the images have been previously posted on this blog so they might look familiar.
Finally here is a little blurb on the Autumn Immersions portfolio.
Autumn Immersions is all about immersing ones self in the splendor of fall colors and lines. The term immersion has its roots in the act of baptism. This outward act symbolizes the inward change that has taken place – death to the old life and reemergence to the new. In the same way the outward change of nature in fall represents the inward “death” that is taking place in the plants before winter with the promise of new life in the spring. While the root of the term immersion is in the act of baptism, it can more generally reflect the concept of submerging or plunging something into a fluid. These images appear as if they were submerged in a fluid and pulled out – streaking the image. I hope you enjoy them.
