Get the Free Good Newsletter

Click Here!
To learn more about the newsletter

 
 

Play Ball!

April 10, 2010 by Justin 1 Comment

There are a bunch of things technically wrong with this image (lens flare being a big one), but because it reminds me of the start of summer, it is sooooo right. Summer is close! Opening day was Friday, and as my good friend said, “Mother Nature set the thermostat to AWESOME!”. I am feeling very inspired, and I hope you are too.

I shot a couple photos from the iPhone while out enjoying the AWESOME…wish I had my 300mm when I ran by a couple of elk.

http://bestc.am/photographers/15879

Note: I will be posting a new video tomorrow. It it geared towards those just getting into photography. I hope to answer the question that new photographers are commonly faced with….”Why don’t my pictures look like that?” Quick answer: Pixel pushing! Also, tomorrow night I will be shooting a local wine bar where I will be having a spring show, so stay tuned for the details.

Capture Notes:

Nikon D300
Tokina 11-16 ATX Pro (no lens hood)
Gitzo Traveler

Aperture: f/11.0
Focal Length: 11 mm
ISO Speed:400

Processing Notes:

Capture (9 images @ 1ev)
Photomatix (HDR/Tonemapping)
Nik Sliver Efex Pro (High Structure – luminosity layer)
Nik Color Efex Pro (Pro Contrast)
Nik Color Efex Pro (Tontal Contrast – selective to the concrete)
Resized for web
LightAsMagic.com

Tip: As I mentioned in the critique above, lens flare was a serious problem in this image. Sure, I didn’t have a lens hood with me, but I doubt that would have solved it . Had I not been trying to dodge the errant foul ball, I might have tried this slick technique from a fellow photographer. Jump on over to his site to see a neat solution to lens flare.

Filed Under: Colorado, Gitzo Traveler, HDR, Nik Software, Nikon D1X, Out My Front Door, Processing Notes, Tips, Tokina 11-16

Related Posts

  1. The Brown Palace
  2. Union Station
  3. Less Elvis – HDR Photographers I Failed You!
  4. Back In The Alley Again

Nebraska

February 12, 2010 by Justin Leave a Comment

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

Filed Under: Album Covers, Americana, My Favorites, Nebraska, Nikon 80-200 D 2.8, Nikon D1X, Superior, Travel
Tagged With:

Dances With Foxes

February 8, 2010 by Justin 1 Comment

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.

Filed Under: Colorado, Fort Collins, Nature, Nik Software, Nikon 80-200 D 2.8, Nikon D1X, One Click, Photography of Opportunity, Processing Notes, Tips, Wildlife

Related Posts

  1. Living On The Edge
  2. Holding The Night Together
  3. Creative Scheduling
  4. One Click – A Simple Sunrise

Ulrich and the International Male

February 1, 2010 by Justin Leave a Comment

One from the archive! My college teammate and I visited the Tour in 2004. We considered going in 2003, but we were confident in Lance’s abilities to win a record breaking 6th TDF. This image was made on stage 19, the decisive individual time trial in Besancon. We had walked 2 miles in the rain for a position on a round-a-bout that would provide us a clear line of sight. The anticipation grew as we watched rider after rider racing by. As the names on the start list were dwindling, we knew that Lance would be charging by shortly. It was Jan Ulrich we saw first, followed shortly thereafter by the man in Yellow. What a dream come true. We were front row for one of the greatest records in cycling history! Lance is racing again this year. Keep your fingers crossed!

Nikon D1x
Nikkor 80-200 AFD

Note: I have been getting some questions about what kind of gear I carry. If you hadn’t noticed, you can visit the site and click on the camera bag to find out.

Filed Under: Besancon, France, Nikon 80-200 D 2.8, Nikon D1X, Tour De France, Travel
Tagged With:

Related Posts

  1. Gato de International
  2. International Gato II
  3. From The Vault

Living On The Edge

January 27, 2010 by Justin Leave a Comment

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.

Filed Under: Colorado, Nikon 80-200 D 2.8, Nikon D1X, Photography of Opportunity, Processing Notes, Telluride, Tips, Travel

Related Posts

  1. A Summer To Remember
  2. Will Rogers Haunts My Backswing
  3. Creative Scheduling
« Older Posts
Newer Posts »