Season's Greetings and Happy Holidays!

This is the photo I sent out this year as a holiday card.  This is the Gazebo in Ligonier on Christmas Eve - 2009.  The photo itself is a true HDR.  This is one of my first successful efforts of using a tripod, setting the camera bracket settings, using a remote release so I didn't have to touch the camera, aperture priority, manual focus, etc.  I should have used written notes.  After the shot - I didn't know what I had until I returned home and started working with it.  Initially - I had a real had time believing I could get a photo like this without a flash and all the issues that brings up.

I really like how the surfaces of the brick and the rock of the gazebo foundation stand out.  there is enough "light" to see the definitions on the gazebo roof.  The light on the trees is only from the street lamps.

After this shot - I was a HDR convert.

So with this - I say Season's Greetings and Happy Holidays.  Thanks for looking in.

Highland Drive Sunset

Last December at this time, I was in Pennsylvania to celebrate the holiday season.  When we arrived, there was at least a foot of snow on the ground - with the forecast of rain the following morning.  After a few hours of rain, the temperature would then drop below freezing for the next week.  

Now to the photo.  This series was taken the following night - just before actual sunset.  And, this is a true HDR photograph.  Instead of showing all three - I've shown the original RAW image and the final result.  Keep in mind that the photo was taken looking into the shadows and yet I can get some great colors and reflections off of the top layer of ice.

The original 'normal' RAW image:  (The normal image)

 

The Final Image:

 

On RAW images, the file is directly what the camera 'sees'.  It does not get the final enhancement that Nikon wants to present to the world.  But you get the idea.  If I were to do a HDR demo - this would be one of the projects.

On most of my shots, I use the one image workflow.  (I usually don't carry a tripod - and some of my subjects move around.)  So this was a real opportunity to compare both images to see if the three image process is any different than the one image process.  After this, I will carry a tripod more (and maybe use it) .  In a small setting there isn't much difference.  Blown up to screen saver size - the colors are fuller.  There is a difference.  

The four items I really like in this are the greens of the trees, the three bands of light in the sky and the ice of the road and the reflection of the trees on the ice covered snow in the lower right.

(1/20, 1/80, 1/5)   f/4.5

Aperture Priority
ISO 100
Focal length 25 mm (37 mm for 35mm film)

Marquette Loader

With the snow getting ready to fly, I was going through some photos taken last February during some travels through the UP.  This is an ore loader in Marquette - no longer used.  This is one of the largest standing objects I've ever seen.  The theory is that train cars loaded with ore would take an elevated bridge to the top of the loader and dump the ore into holding bins.  Freighters would then come along on either side where the ramps would be lowered and the ore would drop to the ships.  This loader is in the middle of town.  Unfortunately it was closed off - would have been interesting to view the inside.

1/160 f/6.3
Aperture Priority
ISO 100
Focal length 25 mm (37 mm for 35mm film)

Photo Set

Marshall Point Light - Part II

The Marshall Point light as many interesting angles.  Both the house and the light make interesting subjects.  While shooing on location, from the other side is all grass and green.  Here is just the opposite, New England rocky shore.  I like the way the colors in the rocks come out - along with some green on the right.

1/160 f/3.5
Aperture Priority
ISO 200
Focal length 18 mm (27 mm for 35mm film)

Photo Set

Rockland Breakwater Light

This is the Rockland Breakwater light in Maine.  The sky doesn't tell half the story - it was a miserable day.  This product is a combination of two photos.  In each shot, there is a person who was just strolling around.  Sometimes people add to the shot - but in this case it did not.  Elements has a function that will allow the combining of shots and selective removal of areas.  The location of the person was on the walkway in the middle of the shot.  In one shot, he was in front of the door at the top of the stairs and in the second shot he was on the far right of the walkway - just past the building.  Neat trick.  Instead of waiting for the 'perfect' shot, just took multiple shots.  As far as trying to 'clone' or blur, the door at the top of the stairs would have been very difficult to reconstruct.

Lincoln Highway

Not your usual Lincoln Highway photo.  This Lincoln Highway is a ski run - that hasn't seen any skiers in 5 years.  The sign looks pretty good for being in the weather for that long.  This is a sneaky photo.  The more I see it, the more I like it.  In the original, there are heavy shadows.  With enough post processing - not only could I get dome light in dark places, but great fall color as well.  (And the B&W version is a new screen saver.)

1/640 f/13
Aperture Priority  EV -7
ISO 400
Focal length 38 mm (57 mm for 35mm film)

Photo Set

RT 381 Fence

I like RT 381 in the fall.  I could almost do a book.  Lots of shadows here and the original is fairly dark.  I tried working on the middle rail of the fence and could not get it right without washing out the whole shot.  (A challenge for the next rainy day!)  As everyone has favorite settings, I'm starting to focus in on fences it seems.  I like the lines.  Who knows, maybe the book will be fences..........

This effect is not quite blown out as some of my other fall shots. This is somewhere between most of my third and fourth shots in the series.

1/200 f/5.6
Aperture Priority
ISO 200
Focal length 70 mm (105 mm for 35mm film)

Photo Set

Leaf in Sunlight

This was an opportunistic shot.  I was walking along the State road and I saw this red patch in a field of green.  I couldn't tell what it was.  At the time I was passing this, the sun had lit up the small area of the leaf - like a spotlight.  I took a few shots of this and this one is the most wide angle.  This shot can crop out many different ways.

1/80 f/13
Aperture Priority
ISO 400
Focal length 100 mm (150 mm for 35mm film)

Photo Set

Fall Cat Tail

This is from a few weeks ago from the last Pennsylvania trip.  This stood out to me where I could really work with depth of field and not in a gradual way.  The cat tail is elevated above the carpet of other plant life, so I really though the clear subject would stand out.  The colors are just where I like them.  Good fall photo.

1/320 f/13
Aperture Priority
ISO 200
Focal length 78 mm (117 mm for 35mm film)

Photo Set

Fence and Tree in Fall

After yesterday's photo of a snow covered road - I needs some warmth.  So back to fall.  This is an unnamed driveway off Rt 381 into Rolling Rock Farms.  To remember, this fall provided great weather and tree colors.  Any scene with a wood fence and a tree with autumn leaves will get my attention.

1/100 f/16
Aperture Priority  EV -7
ISO 200
Focal length 18 mm (27 mm for 35mm film)

Photo Set

Highland Road in Winter

Highland Road is only a few weeks away from looking like this.  This was taken in 2008 with the D80.  If I were shooting this today - well I probably wouldn't change much.  The shot was with the AUTO setting.  Now I try to control the photo a bit more.  It probably works because the scene is much darker.  If the sun were out it might not have turned out like this.

1/200 f/3.9
AUTO
ISO 400
Focal length 26 mm (39 mm for 35mm film)

Photo Set

Why I do what I do........

I spend a fair amount of time on my photos.  For the most part, I don't do family photos.  I try to find what I would consider 'interesting'.  And then I try to translate that moment to print.

That's only the first part - seeing and taking the shot.  What comes next is how to 'help' that moment.  As much as I like the equipment, there are some aspects of the shots that the camera itself will not handle.  Even set to make the images more vivid, that still is not enough.  To go along with color management is light management.  Since I rarely have the luxury of waiting in one spot all day for perfect light, my photos have to be 'adjusted' for light deficiencies.  

I came across a photo that illustrates on many levels why I take the time with photos I like to share.

The original:

And my take:

Old Lobster Traps

This was taken along the walkway to the Rockland Lighthouse.  All along the breakwater were old broken and dented lobster traps.  The yellow colors of the 'seaweeds' along with the green(?) of the plastic coated traps made for an interesting sight.

1/25 f/11
Aperture Priority
ISO 200
Focal length 50 mm (75 mm for 35mm film)

Photo Set

Rt 381 Post

All along Rt 381where I like to shoot are these wood fences that border the fields.  I really like some of the colors that come out of the wood - and the textures.  With the added addition of the great sky and tree colors - this is a pretty good shot.  I thought I'd like the sign a bit better - and maybe in this case less would be more.  Who knows?

1/2000 f/5.6
Aperture Priority
ISO 200
Focal length 50 mm (75 mm for 35mm film)

Photo Set

Laurel Lodge - Alternate View

This is certainly an effect that either appeals to you or not.  I tried the same effect on the Point Betsie Lighthouse.  Need to look at it more in different scenarios.

Laurel Lodge

This building, a ski lodge, hasn't been used for years.  Of all the winter buildings I've ever seen this one has an outdoor fire place which is unique.  The ski area could be open next year.  The building is in great shape for being abandoned and I expect there won't be many changes but this could be an empty spot next year.

I really like how the rock and wood come out in this.

1/640 f/13
Aperture Priority  EV -.6
ISO 400
Focal length 18 mm (27 mm for 35mm film)

Photo Set

Bike in the Woods

This bike has been here for at least three years - probably more.  How it stays upright is amazing to me.  (Or how come a bear didn't take off on it?)  Usually when I've been around, the light hasn't been real accommodating to a good photo.  This time around, there was plenty of light - or enough to get decent DOF.  I didn't have to bump up the ISO too much.

1/50 f/5
Aperture Priority
ISO 400
Focal length 30 mm (45 mm for 35mm film)

Photo Set

Fall Pathway

Fall 2010 is here!  This is from a wonderful weekend in Pennsylvania - where the combination of blue sky and the colors were the best I've seen or been a part of.  This is in Linn Run State Park on the top of the mountain.  It is a gas line path that has been there for years.  When I was a kid - yes I tried to get through there on a (motorized) bike.  At that time it it was mostly a mud pit and if I remember correctly I wound up pushing the bike through the mud.  Now, it looks like a beautiful pathway.

1/80 f/16
Aperture Priority  EV -.7
ISO 200
Focal length 46 mm (69 mm for 35mm film)

Photo Set

Point Betsie Splash

This is just below the Point Betsie Lighthouse - a seawall to keep erosion at bay.  This was taken last March, still a bit of snow around but no ice in the water.  This has a lot of color to it.  I like being able to bring out different blues in the water.  The seawall color is great as well.

1/320 f/9
Aperture Priority
ISO 200
Focal length 50 mm (75 mm for 35mm film)

Photo Set

Westward

We were returning to Gloucester and passed this fishing boat.  I was captivated by the sunlight hitting the vessel and the oranges.  As it turns out - the hull isn't that deteriorated but this looks great.  We were going a bit faster and I have a number of shots that all turned out well, but the sun was shining on this one.  (A current screen saver....)

1/400 f/5.6
Aperture Priority
ISO 200
Focal length 92 mm (138 mm for 35mm film)
Photo Set