Texture #3, Bad Boy, and HDR

Let's start with HDR. By popular demand the images above are ones used in the HDR image below. Seven images 1/3 stop separating each image. My first and probably my last wildlife HDR image. This little guy held really still for me for about one and a half seconds (thank you nikon). It was almost noon. Harsh daylight. I lost the shadows if exposed for the highlights and blew out the highlights if I exposed for the shadows. HDR here we go!
The Bad Boy theme? When first approaching this den he was very timid. And so where the multitude of others in the same area. But when the big lens came out and the even bigger poster boy for weight watchers appeared they all dove in their dens. Except this Bad Boy. He was calling me out. The neighbor bully. One tough dude! He must have just jumped off his Harley. Click on the image and check out his beard how it is blown to the sides. Circa ZZ top Bad Boys! I held my ground when he took this Ninja stance. As I shouted hold still he winked (really he did) and held still. Not too many wildlife subjects hold as still as he did. Of course I thanked him.

Texture - his fur is unbelievable. I really think the HDR process brought out the individual hairs definition. I doubt he would let me pet him. I can't tell if his fur is soft or maybe a little stiff. What do you think? Maybe a little conditioner or just right?

Texture #2

This is fun. Yesterday's blog answer is..............Shedded Snake Skin! O.F. was the winner. Remember this is the guy with more smarts than Einstein, and Kelly talking about concrete combined. Too easy.

No hints Today. What is the subject in the photo above? Family, employees and anyone with an apple computer are all eligible. Good for another certificate. One hint! I shot this during the day.......:-)

Texture #1

When the new assignment was announced (texture) it took only seconds to know what I wanted to post. I actually shot this the day before yesterday. The intrigue of the shapes, lines and textures drew me (and my camera) in. I will send a gift certificate (at least of value to cover mailing back east also) to the first person who can tell me what the subject is. One hint - I pushed the saturation about 30%.

"TIFF"

Tiff........ The smarty pants at work. She can fix any computer problem.....period! If we all had APPLE computers there would be no need for Tiff! (sorry Tiff). I asked her long ago if I could photograph her and her colorful tattoos (her being gorgeous had nothing to do it :-).. ) You should have seen her on Halloween! Yikes! Double Yikes! Anyway she was very easy to shoot tonight. The shots were made with a Nikon SB900 in a light box, an su 200 flash hand held and in one shot a 36" white reflector. Camera was the Nikon D-3, one lens a 24-70 f/2.8 the other was a 105 f/2.8 lens. Look at the two pictures. You can see the compression difference that the 105 made. Thanks Dan for your help. If not for him one of the shots may have had low exposure on Tiff's feet! Tiff I hope you like it!

My Little Friends............

Nikon D-3, 105 f/2.8 VR lens, R1C1 light System Both lights +.7 EV, Kenko 36mm extension tube, -2.67 EV, ISO-2000, f/29

For several years now I have owned an R1C1 Wireless-Close-up-Speedlight-System. Here and there I have played with it. I have never taken the time to really get down and dirty. You know - Read the Manual! And put this Nikon cool system to work. This weekend was Bear Lake weekend. I think I have slept in my own bed 5 days in the last 25, maybe 30. Who's counting? Attached to my Nikon 105 f/2.8, VR lens the R1C1 creates great opportunities for close up (macro) photography. So why not test the system even further? I invested in Kenko Extension Tubes. Yikes talk about getting close! In some respects I wish I had a 200 macro lens. The 105 with extension tube(s) puts you inches from the subject. Never tried drugging a bug before. Most insects don't like a huge piece of glass with two or four white flashes attached. I found a couple of suiters! Did a little bribing. Like the grass hopper above. It's amazing if they let you get that close how much character you get to see. He was turning his head. Moving antennas around. Those thousands of little eyes checking me out. I wonder who they see when near or far sightedness (sorry that's the best I can spell it sounding it out) affects their vision?

Bright sunlight and two flash heads. The mix was to turn down ambient light about two stops and push up the flashes by almost 1 stop. This way I got the deep shadows and greater contrast with the "hopper" to the plant. To even get any light in the background and front shadow areas I had to push the ISO to 2000. At f/29 it was getting pretty hard to fill. Overall it turned out good.

Now the Black Beauty! Not hard to find. She greets me every-time I arrive and leave Bear Lake. This little (or in spider "BIG") beauty calls my meter box home. Arriving I open and turn on the water. When leaving the water goes off. She is always there. A wonderful greater if I may say so. Though a little spooked when I first take the lid off she eventually calms and wants to get close. A little camera shy though. I chased her all over the lid until she finally realized she was to be famous. A blog superstar. At least that is what I told her. Really like I have mentioned before I ALWAYS talk to my subjects even if their heads are down and coming at a high rate of speed directly at me.

On her belly is a bright red hour glass. I thought a little personal photographing her belly so I did not pursue that. Click on the picture and look close. She must be european. Hairy I must say. What was really interesting was the rings on her two front legs. Why do they need 8 legs? If you look at her back you can see the reflection of the two strobes. Kinda like a catch light isn't it? Almost all the metadata was the same as the grasshopper. Except the EV was -1.67. And the flashes EV was set at zero. I did however lower the ISO to 400. You can see it in the detail. It was a really fun afternoon. I found what I think was a 4' blue racer snake. She did not want anything to do with me or my camera. I gave her a word or two!

Prescott Beauty

An incredibly large lunch today. Tonight it was time to find a soup dinner and some new places to photograph. Downtown Prescott was my destination. Walking for blocks late tonight I found this incredible mural. The wall mural was in a very small alley next to a multi storied parking terrace. It is so large that it I had to stitch 10 shots together in Photoshop. Never seen anything like this before it is beautiful! Click on the images and look close. Each person in the mural is a representation of someone who had an impact on art in Prescott. Incredible!

This statue was very moving to me. While I was standing next to it an individual approached me. She was a long time resident of Prescott. I learned a lot about the history of the city block where this statue stood. She wept as the history and purpose of the statue was shared with me. I was moved. As we stood there arm in arm, strangers tonight, we realized that our conversation and condition was not going unnoticed. The statue stands on the grounds of the Yavapai county courthouse. Many people use the numerous tables, benches and grass as a place to congregate. We had a small audience. I thanked her and embraced her. We parted not even knowing each others names. She gave me a new appreciation for people that love America. Especially those that served our country. Like the one depicted as this statue. So very many giving the ultimate sacrifice.

Earth, wind and .........

How about for the assignment that I show the effects of wind, rain, snow, ice and fire? I'm back in Prescott/Chino Valley Arizona. The dells amaze me every-time I am here. I could literally spend days shooting the shapes colors and textures.

The above shot at 3200 ISO. The black lines in the rock are natural. Incredible shapes.

North facing has the "blue moss". The fractures are evidence of incredible weathering like in the photo above. Yet still have a way to allow plant growth.

Couldn't resist the black and white pushing the texture of these rocks. The high contrast plant adds interest.

Pool Colors...

In Yellowstone we made the rounds at Old Faithful. Colors, colors and more colors. Of the days photo's this was my favorite. The textures and colors create an artsy feel. No special exposure comp. Just straight shooting.

Hunters Not Allowed

Holy Cow (in this case Bull) Batman. I really, really, really wish I had taken a photograph this MONSTER in the wild not on an ELK farm this week. I have a hard time admitting that I shot this at an ELK farm in Rupert, Idaho. Even thought about figuring out a way to cut out the Bull and put him in a wildlife photograph setting. No Guts No Glory? He's still the next to the biggest I have ever seen. Wild or not!

Photo art (again)

My feeble attempt at being an artist (again).

Not to insult true artists, we do have a couple of things in common. We have a vision of a scene. The photographers is right in front of them. Another is that we produce something from our "scene". When my daughter and I stopped at the river that's in the photo above. I knew that the outcome was not going to be strictly a photo replication of the scene. The patterns colors and shapes made me wish I could draw or paint. Never happen. I can't even draw a straight line for work. Thank goodness for Topaz labs and their simple filters. I almost felt as if I was forcing a print out of a "normal" shot. But in the end it turned out as I envisioned it. May have been more dimensional if from my imagination. Oh well another chance to explore and stretch my study and vision.

My wife does not like this one......

No big quarrels. Just a slight disagreement. My wife is my best and worst critic. For 30 some years she shrugs off most my work. She is a purest. A famous violinist. An artist. I married UP! She see things like...well like....like I don't see. I play the stereo and the Ipod. In tune I might mention. Her criticism of this photo was the blurry waterfall. I tried to explain that I used a slower shutter speed to get that very effect. Didn't win her over. I kinda like it. In post it was run through topaz with a filter called simplify. If you look close it has a slight water color feel to it. It won't be hanging anywhere in my house near the Thomas Kinkaid's. Maybe I will post it at work.........

Shoshpne #2 Close Up

Part of photography is location, location, location. Finding that sweet spot that captures the essence of the scene. Walking hours on end waiting for the perfect light. Camera and tripod over shoulder with twenty pounds or so in a a back pack or vest. Searching, seeking that one and only spot to shoot. Or if you are at a national, city, or state park that has cliffs and water falls, you shoot behind the fence. Where ever the fence is. At Shoshone falls it's obvious that the law abiding photographers stay on the trail and behind the fence. So I shot where everyone else shoots. How many have a 14-24, f/2/8 lens? And shoot the scene in using HDR? Probably hundreds or thousands. So if you have seen Shoeshone falls there is no new views. Hopefully just new ways to see the same view.

Shoshone Falls

A lot of window time again today. Back in Twinn Falls late. I have never seen Shoshone Falls before. For years my travels in Idaho have included Twinn Falls City. Encouraged by Thomas on many occasion to see the falls, I rushed there just as the sun was setting. Checked exposures. Yikes nine stops! Lowered the EV two stops and shot nine frames .7 stop apart. A gentleman I was talking with mentioned that about fifteen minutes earlier the sun was shining down the canyon onto the falls. Sounds good but may have added even a wider dynamic range. Post I sharpened slightly, dodged all the water very slightly and framed. Hope to come back again and see the falls in the spring. Thomas says the volume of water going over is incredible.

Old But Standing

On the Road Again.

Looking for light to pixel absorption while driving to Idaho today. Bonus. This house (or school house) fell right into my lap. Above the window carved in the wood is a name and the Date of Apr 1909. The structure is at Rock City National Monument (though on private property). I was amazed at the construction of the structure. Multiple layers of stacked granite. It must have taken a long time to quarry, cut and shape the stones. Don't you wonder who built it? What did the valley look like 100 years ago? If only the walls could talk!

Oregon Coast

June 2007

Definitely the greatest photo op I have ever had. Taught by the masters, Moose Peterson, Joe McNally, and others. DLWS was a great adventure and was a turning point in the way I see through my camera and work in the digital darkroom. Moose and Joe are famous they don't know me from Adam. But I am a daily follower of their blogs. I get nothing for endorsing them. If you want a photographic vision changing experience. Sign up for DLWS. The photo above was taken at DLWS June of 2007. This day was the usual up before dawn at the site shooting before sunrise. The group had gone the opposite direction. I wanted a shot unique to my taste like the lighthouse posted on my web site. Every-time I view the hundreds of shots from Oregon it takes me back. Plus I wanted to run a few frames through Silver Efex Pro. I hope you enjoy it. I sure did when I was there.

Workroom HDR't

I'm really digging this HDR thing!

We should call the HDR type photo's above HDR't (HDR art). Surreal but effective. I made several versions of this photo. Started with the "it's how I saw it". To what you see above. On the internet I seem to find more HDR't than anything else. Whatever! It's pretty dang fun!

Deer Week #2

Another missed opportunity...

I am on my soap box again with this one!  Just as my daughter and I set up to shoot two beautiful bucks, out of a car runs a very young man on a dead run towards the deer.  He is on a mission for mom and dad.  Get as close as you can with the point and shoot and take a picture. Hurry because it will run.  DUH!!!!!!!   When will these people realize that close means Bye, Bye to the wild life.  Or hello to the antlers in your gut.  Either one is NOT ACCEPTABLE!!!!!!

Along with the deer in the photo above was a big beautiful five point buck.  He was headed for a clearing with all kinds of yellow and purple flowers.  The shot of a life time for two eager and patient photographers.  BUT NO.  I gestured to the little two legged monster to stay back.  No respect for me or the wishes of those around me.  

I look at it this way.  Everyone has the right to witness these beautiful creatures of the wild.  Equally.  That means that if the animal is NOT affected by our presence we are the right distance from said animal.  To photograph the wild at a distance of comfort for the animal is expensive.  

$10,000.00 for a 600mm lens

$1,000.oo for telecoverters

$6,000.00 for camera.

$1,600.oo for tripod and head 

That's just the beginning.  So why are people so inconsiderate first, of the animal then second, of those that wish to photograph the animal in it's natural state and natural state of mind?   It's no wonder I prefer to hike back to find wild animals.  It puts me alone with the wild.  Hopefully at a great distance from the point and shoot public.  

My daughter is blogging on our trip also.  A very nice perspective for me to see.  Find it here.

Oxbow Panarama

I will be back this fall to Oxbow Bend in the Tetons.  Imagine this shot with the aspens in the fall...Yikes!   This shot was 3 wide angles stitched together in CS4 through Photomerge.  Not to difficult. What a beautiful place to be at 7:00 a.m. in the morning last week.  

Sun Flare assignment......

Alea!   How about this one?   Assignment is creative sunburst right?  Nobody said anything about a requirement to have people in the picture.....

12-24 lens @f/22.  Hand held over the rail at ground level.  The small aperture kicks back the starburst sun.  For years I carried a sunburst filter.  One day at a photo seminar a friend let me down slow and let me in on the small aperture thing.  Always learning.  

Maverik Truck....work?

Golly I was asked to photograph one of our trucks.  I had to think about this...for about a second.  Everything was going well until the jet flew through the photo.  I am sure someone out there can fix the con-trail.  It was a fun night.  Fun people and great light!  

Post I used a 9 frame HDR at 1/3 stop increments.  Made no adjustments in the tone map.