Tried my hand at fly fishing this pretty little creek in the Eastern Adirondacks. Didn't try too long and didn't have any luck but the photo opportunity was worth it. This was taken with the D90 and the Sigma 10-20mm
ZENFOLIO
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Post Processing
I have been noticing lately a lot of people speaking of their resentment for post processing. I hear things like "I don't believe in needing to be a computer scientist to take a nice photo." Most of the time when I see people say things like SOOC (Straight out of camera) or "no post processing in this photo", they say it in a way meant to sound like "This photo is better than yours because I didn't need to doctor it with a computer."
It takes a certain level of ignorance to make statements like this. All great photographers have used post processing to some degree (at least all the ones I know of). Ansel Adams spent hours in the darkroom on his photos. Generally when I see these comments attached to photos, they are excuses for pretty lousy photos. Generally they have glaring issues that couldn't even be fixed in post (i.e. very soft out of focus photos, poor composition etc).
I hate to pick on newbies, and I by no means consider myself an expert or pro (because I am NOT), but I am proud of the amount of time I have spent learning what I have learned. Cameras are tools that are used to interpret what we see with our eyes. They are in NO way equivalent to what our eyes are capable of. When you take a photo with a camera the process is just beginning.
The people that make such statements are shooting in jpeg. They don't realize that by shooting their photos in jpeg, their cameras are doing the processing for them. I shoot in RAW as do most advanced photographers (notice I didn't say all). Shooting in RAW leaves all of the available information in the file and allows more creative control over the post processing procedure.
It takes a certain level of ignorance to make statements like this. All great photographers have used post processing to some degree (at least all the ones I know of). Ansel Adams spent hours in the darkroom on his photos. Generally when I see these comments attached to photos, they are excuses for pretty lousy photos. Generally they have glaring issues that couldn't even be fixed in post (i.e. very soft out of focus photos, poor composition etc).
I hate to pick on newbies, and I by no means consider myself an expert or pro (because I am NOT), but I am proud of the amount of time I have spent learning what I have learned. Cameras are tools that are used to interpret what we see with our eyes. They are in NO way equivalent to what our eyes are capable of. When you take a photo with a camera the process is just beginning.
The people that make such statements are shooting in jpeg. They don't realize that by shooting their photos in jpeg, their cameras are doing the processing for them. I shoot in RAW as do most advanced photographers (notice I didn't say all). Shooting in RAW leaves all of the available information in the file and allows more creative control over the post processing procedure.
Horses at Sunrise
Sunrises can be hit or miss. When you work a full time job and the weekends are pretty much your main photography time, it can be a big investment getting up at 4:45am to get some shooting time in. It is especially tough if you don't have a spot really planned out and you are just winging it.
That was the case here. I knew that it was going to be a nice morning so I got up early and set out to make a nice photograph. I had to park on the side of the road near this farm in West Charlton and get up onto the roof of my car to shoot over the fence. I could have walked up to the fence, but I definitely didn't want to trespass.
The 80-200 F/2.8 was a no brainer here and I shot it at ISO 800 to help with the low light. There really wasn't a ton of post processing here. Some cropping and straightening of the horizon and some small changes in the color balance (namely making the photo a tad bit warmer).
That was the case here. I knew that it was going to be a nice morning so I got up early and set out to make a nice photograph. I had to park on the side of the road near this farm in West Charlton and get up onto the roof of my car to shoot over the fence. I could have walked up to the fence, but I definitely didn't want to trespass.
The 80-200 F/2.8 was a no brainer here and I shot it at ISO 800 to help with the low light. There really wasn't a ton of post processing here. Some cropping and straightening of the horizon and some small changes in the color balance (namely making the photo a tad bit warmer).
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Guardian of the Sunflowers
I have heard it said amongst photographers that you should "shoot for the light" because everything looks interesting in good light. I definitely find some truth to that, but a field of sunflowers is interesting in almost all types of light.
As mentioned in my previous post I set out last night to try and find a sunflower field that I knew existed in Montgomery County. Sheer luck and some decent guess work lead me straight to this field. I was hoping to find it with a beautiful sunset behind it but it wasn't to be.
I think I did a decent job with the light I had and finding this old tree along the roadside certainly helped to add some drama to the scene.
I hope to get another crack at this scene in some better light, preferably a sunrise.
As mentioned in my previous post I set out last night to try and find a sunflower field that I knew existed in Montgomery County. Sheer luck and some decent guess work lead me straight to this field. I was hoping to find it with a beautiful sunset behind it but it wasn't to be.
I think I did a decent job with the light I had and finding this old tree along the roadside certainly helped to add some drama to the scene.
I hope to get another crack at this scene in some better light, preferably a sunrise.
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Sunflower Field
A lot of photos of sunflowers have been posted lately so I decided this was probably the best time of year to search them out. I set out with a vague idea as to where I would find the best field (by vague idea, I mean a particular county in Upstate, NY... pretty vague). I set out on one of the main roads through the county and from there I took another main road and all of a sudden there it was! I wasn't there during the best possible lighting and could probably spend a great deal of time photographing this under different lighting conditions. I might try and get back here for some sunrise lighting.
I am not going to post exactly where this field is because quite frankly I had to do some legwork (mostly driving around) and had a great deal of luck. If you absolutely must know where it is, contact me and I'll let you know.
I am not going to post exactly where this field is because quite frankly I had to do some legwork (mostly driving around) and had a great deal of luck. If you absolutely must know where it is, contact me and I'll let you know.
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Graveyard of Trees
I haven't been shooting much. Various factors have played into this, not the least of which is the fact that I ABHOR the heat. It has really knocked out my motivation.
I am not entirely happy with this shot but it was a shoot that was cut short. I was out exploring some new areas and the weather was iffy. It was sunny one minute and then threatening the next. I came upon this scene on a nice tract of state land that I could see from the road. I was down in this marsh setting up my camera and I could still barely see my car parked on the road. The area is extremely secluded (it's not too far from Lake Desolation if that name tells you anything) and there are no houses for at least a mile.
I had my tripod set up and started adjusting the camera and I noticed a mini van that had driven by once already, drive by again slowly. I went back to my business and a few minutes later the van came back and briefly parked directly behind my car and then took off. I am a paranoid person and get annoyed easily. I grabbed my gear and started to head back to my car and as I got back near my car and looked back at the scene, this beautiful golden light was bathing the whole marshy area from over the tree line.
At this point I was fuming and hustled to get back down there. By the time I did the magic was gone and this is what was left. It would have been a spectacular shot.
I don't know if the person in the van was looking for a hiking trail, thought I was a suspicious person or was casing my car. I don't really want to know but would like to be able to head back to this spot at a later time. Stay tuned.....
I am not entirely happy with this shot but it was a shoot that was cut short. I was out exploring some new areas and the weather was iffy. It was sunny one minute and then threatening the next. I came upon this scene on a nice tract of state land that I could see from the road. I was down in this marsh setting up my camera and I could still barely see my car parked on the road. The area is extremely secluded (it's not too far from Lake Desolation if that name tells you anything) and there are no houses for at least a mile.
I had my tripod set up and started adjusting the camera and I noticed a mini van that had driven by once already, drive by again slowly. I went back to my business and a few minutes later the van came back and briefly parked directly behind my car and then took off. I am a paranoid person and get annoyed easily. I grabbed my gear and started to head back to my car and as I got back near my car and looked back at the scene, this beautiful golden light was bathing the whole marshy area from over the tree line.
At this point I was fuming and hustled to get back down there. By the time I did the magic was gone and this is what was left. It would have been a spectacular shot.
I don't know if the person in the van was looking for a hiking trail, thought I was a suspicious person or was casing my car. I don't really want to know but would like to be able to head back to this spot at a later time. Stay tuned.....
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Sensor Cleaning & Photo Images in Glenville, NY
Anyone who has shot with a DSLR and has done some small aperture work (i.e. f/22) has probably seen some small black specks in their photos. This is what sensor dust shows up as in your photos. Most of the time this dust is so small you can't see it with your naked eye but chances are if you have been shooting for a while and have changed lenses, it's there! Normally, locking the mirror up and using something like a Giotto Rocket Blower, will do the trick.
Recently, I took a landscape photo at f/22 and noticed that my photo was riddled with sensor dust. I locked the mirror up and tried the rocket blower several times and the dust wouldn't budge.
What I learned was I had some "welded dust" on my sensor. In this hot and humid weather (and horrible) the dust has a higher likelihood of sticking or welding itself to the sensor in your camera. When attempting to blow the dust off your sensor no longer works it's time for step 2. This is where Glenville's Photo Images comes in.
I walked into the store this morning and after a very brief wait, my camera was looked at. The associate (Steve) was excellent and swept my sensor until it was clean (about 5 passes or so). The price couldn't have been more reasonable (less than $22 bucks) and was half of what other local shops wanted to charge. What was even better was that I was in and out in less than a half hour. Some of the other shops wanted a 4 or 5 day turn around.
If your in the Capital District, or even if you have to drive an hour or so it's worth it to take a trip to Photo Images in Glenville. They are at 19 Glenridge Road.
Recently, I took a landscape photo at f/22 and noticed that my photo was riddled with sensor dust. I locked the mirror up and tried the rocket blower several times and the dust wouldn't budge.
What I learned was I had some "welded dust" on my sensor. In this hot and humid weather (and horrible) the dust has a higher likelihood of sticking or welding itself to the sensor in your camera. When attempting to blow the dust off your sensor no longer works it's time for step 2. This is where Glenville's Photo Images comes in.
I walked into the store this morning and after a very brief wait, my camera was looked at. The associate (Steve) was excellent and swept my sensor until it was clean (about 5 passes or so). The price couldn't have been more reasonable (less than $22 bucks) and was half of what other local shops wanted to charge. What was even better was that I was in and out in less than a half hour. Some of the other shops wanted a 4 or 5 day turn around.
If your in the Capital District, or even if you have to drive an hour or so it's worth it to take a trip to Photo Images in Glenville. They are at 19 Glenridge Road.
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