Portrait Session

The Bay Area Photo Club had a field trip late Saturday afternoon to a local park. Other members had arranged to have a few folks show up to act as models and we all had an opportunity to practice our portrait skills. I was using a homemade beauty dish on my Canon 430EX flash to the left of the subjects. My light became a key light on the little girl and a fill light on her mother. I didn't end up taking a lot of photos but I took enough to know I still need quite a bit of work with both portraits and lighting. Anyway, I like this shot and possibly one other that I will try to edit and post tomorrow. Thanks to Bob Dempsey for setting up the outing!

Title: "Portriat Session 1"


Shot data: 1/160s f/5.6 at 130.0mm iso200
Camera / Lens: Canon 40D / Canon 100-400mm L zoom

The Aviator

One of my favorite shots from the archives. This is a long-exposure shot of one of the rides at Kemah Boardwalk. This shot earned a Gold Award for me in the October 2007 Assignment category of "Night Lights".

Title: "The Aviator"


Camera / Lens: Canon XTi / Canon 100-400mm L zoom
Shot data: 0.80s f/8.0 at 100.0mm iso200

Foggy Lake

This is a shot taken at the Huntington, West Virgina KOA we stayed at on our New York trip in May. The morning fog rising above the campground's swim lake gave it a mystical feel in the morning light.

Title: "Foggy Lake"


Shot data: 1/1250s f/3.5 at 28.0mm iso400

Ikea Lights

This weekend I took my camera into Ikea as we looked around. I wasn't in a very creative mood though so I only took a few shots. I liked this shot for its simplicity.

Title: "Ikea Lights"


Shot data: 1/250s f/4.0 at 43.0mm iso400
Camera // Lens: Canon 40D / Canon 17-55mm f/2.8 zoom

Summer Solstice Non-Event

I took this shot last night at Sylvan Rodriquez Park in Houston, TX. Supposedly at sunset the sun would be located directly between the two sets of monoliths in the photo. Did it work? It didn't look to me like it worked but the final answer could not be seen because the sun's descent was obscured at the penultimate moment by the line of trees you can see on the horizon. Based on the trajectory I witnessed it didn't seem like it worked. But then again, how could government engineering ever go wrong? I took a lot of shots (too many) last night and this was my favorite because of the shadows even though it wasn't closest to sunset. I'm not sure what trick of light caused the bright spot on the right hand side of the photo but to me it ended up looking almost like a second sun! I thought the cyanide monotone treatment added to an other-worldly look for the shot.

Title: "Summer Solstice Non-Event"


Camera / Lens: Canon 40D / Canon 17/55mm f/2.8 zoom
Post-processing: Photomatix conversion to HDR image from three exposures (-2,0,+2) > Photoshop CS3 > Topaz Adjust to enhance contrast and reduce noise > Nik Viveza for local brightness adjustments > Virtual Photographer "Cyanide" preset

Cold = Fresh

I'm not exactly sure that the equation always holds true (it doesn't work for coffee for example :-) but I thought the composition was interesting and wanted to do a selective focus exercise as practice for our upcoming Bay Area Photo Club assignment.

Title: "Cold = Fresh"


Shot data: 1/80s f/2.8 at 55.0mm iso400
Camera / Lens: Canon 40D / Canon 17-55mm f/2.8 zoom

Yard Work

I messed around with my new Satechi Multi-Function Timer Remote Control today. It has a built in intervalometer function that I set to fire every 30 seconds 20 times in a row to create this composite. I only ended up using 3 of the shots for this composite but the remote worked perfectly. I don't really know why I purchased this particular piece of equipment other than, unlike most photography related gear, it was fairly inexpensive (under $60 if memory serves). It has applications for long exposures, time lapse photography, etc. I imagined I could set it up at an event on my backup camera and take cameo event shot every minute or so. Hopefully I will be able to make good use of it. :-)

Title: "Yard Work"


Camera / Lens: Canon 40D / Canon 17-55mm f/2.8 zoom

Beach Girl

Here's another shot from our stay in Destin, Florida.

Title: "Beach Girl"


Photo data: 1/800s f/6.3 at 100.0mm iso200
Camera / Lens: Canon 40D / Canon 100-400mm f/2.8 zoom

Beach Boy

Taken on the beach in Destin, Florida. Wouldn't you love to be a kid agian?

Title: "Beach Boy"


Shot data: 1/640s f/6.3 at 100.0mm iso200

Da Vinci

So the deal is that you have two days to shoot a photo that relates in some way to a photo taken by the photographer before you on the list. The guy after you has to tie into your photo, etc, etc. It's an exercise put together by Bob Dempsey, out photo club's Field Trip coordinator. Go here to see the entire progression of photos (so far) if you have any desire to do so:

Title: "Da Vinci"


Camera / Lens: Canon 40D / Canon 17-55mm f/2.8 zoom
Shot data: 1/100s f/4.0 at 28.0mm iso400

Colonial Williamsburg Reinactors

Here are a couple more shots taken at Colonial Williamsburg when we visited there a few weeks ago. The success of any of these reinactors is their believability and I found these folks to be totally believable.

Title: "Order in the Court"


Camera / Lens: Canon 40D / Canon 100-400mm L zoom
Shot data: 1/100s f/5.0 at 100.0mm iso640

Title: "Basic Transportation"


Camera / Lens: Canon 40D / Canon 100-400mm L zoom
Shot data: 1/1250s f/5.6 at 320.0mm iso250

Underworld

This was taken at the PATH train station near Times Square. This was our first experience on a subway (we don't get out much) and we enjoyed the experience even though it was the middle of the night. This particular train goes from Times Square under the Hudson River to Hoboken, NJ.

Title: "Underworld"


Camera / Lens: Canon 40D / Canon 17-55mm f/2.8

Almost Show Time 2

The majority of folks commenting on my post yesterday thought thought that the image might be improved by a square crop. I think I like it about equally both ways but I could see how someone might like this crop better.

Cheers!
Barry

Title: "Almost Show Time 2"

Almost Show Time!

We arrived at the Imperial theater to see Billy Elliot early enough for me to grab a few shots outside before we went in. This shot began as a handheld three exposure composite merged into an HDR image. I think the shot has a lot of energy and a few other positive attributes. I hope you like it as much as I do! :-)

Title: "Almost Show Time!"


Camera / Lens: Canon 40D / Canon 17-55mm f/2.8 zoom
Post-processing tool: Photomatix, Photoshop CS3, Topaz Adjust plugin, Nik Viveza plugin

NYC - Times Square

Here is a shot of Times Square in NYC taken on our trip there a couple of weeks ago.

Title: "Times Square"


Camera / Lens: Canon 40D / Canon 17-55mm f/2.8 zoom

Thrill Ride

Tonight was the Bay Area Photo Club's Honor's Night. I presented this photo for the Assignment which was "Children at Play". This was taken at an amusement park in Huntsville, Alabama which was one of our stops on the NY trip. I received a Silver Award from the judges.

Title: "Thril Ride"


Camera / Lens: Canon 40D / Canon 17-55mm f/2.8 zoom
Post-processing tools: Photoshop CS3 and the Topaz Adjust plugin

Wilson's Bridge - Maryland

We stopped to look at this historic bridge in Maryland on our recent trip to NY.

Here is a bit about this bridge I copied from Wikipedia:
Wilson's Bridge is a bridge near Hagerstown, Washington County, Maryland, United States. It originally carried the Hagerstown and Conococheague Turnpike, the National Pike, across the Conococheague Creek seven miles west of Hagerstown. The five-arched structure, the longest of the county's stone bridges, is 210 feet in length and is constructed of coursed local limestone. The bridge was erected in 1819 by Silas Harry, who had built similar bridges in Pennsylvania.

Title: "Wilson's Bridge"

NY Streets

One of the most fascinating things about New York City is the people always present on Manhattan streets; a street photographers dream come true!

Title: "Carve Deli"


Shot Data: 1/500s f/2.8 at 18.0mm iso100
Camera / Lens: Canon 40D / Canon 17-55mm f/2.8 zoom

Title: "Sailors in NY"


Shot Data: 1/80s f/4.0 at 24.0mm iso200
Camera / Lens: Canon 40D / Canon 17-55mm f/2.8 zoom

Pennsylvania Amish

Here are a couple more shots I took of the Amish on our recently completed RV trip to NY.

Title: "Pennsylvania Amish 4"


Shot data: 1/80s f/7.1 at 400.0mm iso250
Camera / Lens: Canon 40D / Canon 100-400mm L zoom

Title: "Buggy Ride"


Shot data: 1/40s f/7.1 at 400.0mm iso250
Camera / Lens: Canon 40D / Canon 100-400mm L zoom

Newfield Bridge V2

Here's a different version of the Newfield Bridge that I posted a pic of earlier today. Doug and Shirley wanted to see a version with more of the entrance visible and I do think this works better! Thanks Doug and Shirley!

Title: "Newfield Bridge V2"

Newfield Bridge

I took this photo while on vacation in NY last week. Here is some info about the bridge I grabbed off of the Internet:

This bridge, built in 1853, is the oldest covered bridge in daily use in New York State. It was constructed at a cost of $800. The distinctive diamond pattern of the "town lattice truss" is pinned together with tunnels of "tree nails." The roof and siding serve to protect the structure from the ravages of nature. Popular in the 1800's because of plentiful and inexpensive timber, covered bridges or "timber tunnels" became places for social gatherings.

The bridge underwent major restoration in 1972 by Milton S. Graton, a nationally renowned preservationist. Much of the local work in preserving this treasure before and after the major restoration came from Thompkins County residents Marie and Grant Musser. In 1998 the bridge overlook area was named in their honor and a plaque placed nearby declaring these local volunteers, "Keepers Of The Covered Bridge."


Title: "Newfield Bridge"


Camera / Lens: Canon 40D / Canon 17-55mm f/2.8 zoom
Post-processing: Photomatix to combine three handheld exposures (-2,0,+2) into one HDR Image > Photoshop CS3 for various contrast and tonal adjustments

Buttermilk Falls

Taken a couple of weeks ago at Buttermilk Falls State Park in Ithaca, New York.

Title: "Buttermilk Falls"


Camera / Lens: Canon 40D / Canon 17-55mm f/2.8 zoom
Post-processing: Photomatix to merge 3 exposures (-2,0,+2) taken from a tripod into one HDR image > Photoshop CS3 for levels, curves and brightness adjustments

Lower Falls

This is another of the five waterfalls we visited on our recently completed RV trip. This waterfall is located in Robert Treman State Park in Ithaca, New York. Lower Falls is located on the opposite end of the state park from Lucifer Falls which I posted a photo of a few days ago.

Title: "Lower Falls"


Camera / Lens: Canon 40D / Canon 17-55mm f/2.8 zoom
Post-processing: Photomatix to convert three handheld images into one HDR file > Photoshop CS3 for contrast, brightness and levels adjustments

Taughannock Falls

This shot is of Taughanock Falls located in Taughanock Falls State Park in Trumansburg, NY (the Ithaca, NY area). Taken Sunday before last on day 9 of our recently completed NY RV trip. It is interesting to me, being from Houston where 100% of all waterfalls are created by landscapers, how each of these waterfalls has its own distinct characteristics: this is "the tall one."

Title: "Taughannock Falls"


Camera / Lens: Canon 40D 17-55mm f/2.8 zoom
Shot data: 1/3s f/11.0 at 28.0mm iso100

Skidaway Island

This past Thursday (Day 13 of our NY vacation) we visited Skidaway Island in Savannah, GA. This was a very quick stop on what was otherwise mostly a travel day.

Title: "Skidaway Island Bird"


Camera / Lens: Canon 40D / Canon 100-400mm L zoom
Shot info: 1/200s f/5.6 at 400.0mm iso400


Title: "Skidaway Island Picnic Table"


Camera / Lens: Canon 40D / Canon 100-400mm L zoom
Shot info: 1/320s f/5.6 at 400.0mm iso100