Journey Through the View Finder

First "REAL" impressions of the Nikon J1

2011-11-24T07:59:00.001-08:00

First off let me start out by saying I was NOT excited about this camera when it was announced. The small sensor size with the lack of full manual controls that work without having to sort through menus made it far less than desirable to me. I took it as an over priced compact camera that they added extra lenses to and not worth any serious consideration. Even with that said I understand. Nikon started developing this camera way before the micro 4/3 and the NEX series cameras were available. They spent 4 years planning this camera and in that time the Olympus Pen series took off running and that spawned a whole slew of ILS cameras. A dozen or so cameras later from Sony, Olympus, Panasonic and Samsung, Nikon enters the arena with the Nikon J1 and its bigger brother the V1.

My first impression was the sensor was way too small to compete and the UI was lacking enough to warrant the high price tag (649.99 for the J1 and 949.99 for the V1). So I decided that since I will be showing and selling these cameras this season I should at least give it a fair shake. So I gave it a whirl and what do ya know?! Its a great little camera! For what and who its marketed to its PERFECT! I don't say that about too many things. I do not think I have ever came across a camera that had everything but this one really does. That is as long as I am looking at it from a point and shooter's perspective who wants a bit more camera without all the hassles. It has the features a snapshot connoisseur would want. The mode dial gives only 4 options (movie, still image, motion snapshot and smart photo selector) so no worries about the meanings of M,P,S,A. Movie mode works really well, even in low light. the smart photo selector is fast and right on. The focus is extreme to say the least. Quick and accurate so far in all situations. The motion snapshot is something that could be really neat but the way its processed is lacking. it actually does two files one still and a short little clip. Then the software adds them together and shows it as a short clip that ends with a transition into the snapshot with a bit of the Ken Burns effect. The LCD is amazingly clear! I think that might be the best hardware feature on the entire camera! Its not something numbers can explain....you really need to see it. Here is a shot that came straight out of the camera in a low light situation. It took the shot at 1/6th of a second and an aperture of f3.5. The ISO was at 1600 which did quite well.

SO with this all said I have changed my opinion about this camera and think it will be a much bigger player than I originally thought. After using this I can honestly say it would make a great addition to any photography buff's collection or a fantastic main camera for any soccer mom or single dad who just wants a good camera to catch the moments.

Topaz Adjust 5 first look.......

2011-11-15T17:16:00.001-08:00

Today I downloaded the new Topaz Adjust 5 (Photoshop plugin) and I gotta say....it's not too shabby! Topaz Adjust has been a staple for me and my editing since day one. I have went through all the versions to date and this one is the tops! To start off the program is so simple its just a joy to work with. The learning curve is almost non-existent.you can get great results just using the presets but don't let those quick clicks keep you from exploring more.You can now do global and localized adjustments which was lacking in the previous version. To that I say "KUDOS Topaz Labs!"Next is the fact that you can stack the effects without having to exit and re-enter the plug-in. They have included an "apply" button that adds the effect and then lets you keep experimenting. This version has given me back that feeling of experimentation that the last couple updates lacked. They were updates more than upgrades. Not much changed throughout the last couple with exception of a couple presets and a bit of UI tweaks. they have also added something they call "Finishing Touches". These are things like Border, Diffusion, Grain, Vignette, Tone, Warmth and Transparency. More toys to experiment with! I say if you are a photographer who dabbles in a bit of the surreal or just likes playing around and creating something different for your shots give this a try. Let me know what you think. Here is a before and after I did using only this plugin.

First Impressions of the Fuji X10.....

2011-11-13T10:11:00.001-08:00

I recently was afforded the chance to take the Fujifilm X10 compact camera out for a test spin.I must say, I was quite pleased with the experience in whole. The Camera itself is very attractive and has the look of a Bessa rangefinder or the like. It is considered the little brother to the X100 which is Fuji's Leica-esque APS-C size sensor digital camera. Both have that retro look but its more than just another pretty face.Its functional. Granted the X100 has a few glitches here and there that make it more of a rough draft than a final product but the new X10 has corrected a few things and is really quite impressive as a so called point and shoot camera. I would say this is an advanced compact camera rather than P&S however. It has full manual controls if that is what you are after as well as an auto mode and the scene selector as well as Fuji's EXR mode. In EXR mode the EXR processor will evaluate the scene and select the best settings for that scene, going beyond auto. Here is a sample shot using the camera's exposure bracketing (one of three different bracketing modes) and then merged into an HDR.

The camera has a few features that work really well. For instance the twist of the lens and it powers up and is ready for shooting. The control wheel for manual settings works well also however if you put the camera in manual focusing its pretty much rendered useless! To go from close to infinity focusing it takes around 15 seconds. If you are doing macro or static photography great! However any type of action or movement (even a slug crossing the road) would be quite a task. The battery is the familiar NP-45 which is in many other Fuji cameras and worked fairly well. After 200 shots or so and 4 video clips roughly a minute each I still have plenty of time left. The camera does go into a sleep mode that is not always easy to wake. You would expect a simple press of the shutter and it would pop up or a twist of the zoom but at times this still didn't wake the camera. I had to physically turn the camera off once and then turn it back on. All in all I would say this is a spectacular advanced compact camera. For the Pro or photo enthusiast who wants a great walking around compact to take every where. I think it surpasses Canon's G12 and Nikon's P7100 advanced compacts easily. I did some test shots against my micro 4/3 camera, the Panasonic Lumix GF2 but have yet to compare side by side. Its football Sunday people! Be glad you got this! Anyways, stay tuned for my comparisons with the two cameras. I suspect it will fair well in Image quality and ease of use but may fall short in AF speed, start up time, and a couple other aspects that may or may not be an issue with prospective buyers.

Fuji HS20 super zoom

2011-11-08T12:55:00.001-08:00

The Fuji HS20 point and shoot camera is a fantastic little beast. With the EXR processor it does phenomenal work. With 30x zoom full HD video and great features you can really get into the hobby of photography with this camera.
Here is a test macro shot done with the HS20 and the pro master ring flash, which is LED for minimal power consumption, you are ready for those tiny bits and pairing that with the 35mm equivalent zoom range of 24-720mm there isn't much you can't do.

2011-11-02T19:19:00.000-07:00

Easy day at work, selling camera gear and informing people on all sorts of things when it comes to photography. I really love my job! When I got home tonight I knew there were a couple more shots worth playing with from the day before's outing. these HDR's are done through NIK Software's HDR EFX Pro. Its really a superb system. The whole NIK line is wonderful and now I know after trying them all I will never have the same workflow again! As well as never being without NIK's programs. Save's a lot of time and work. Some do not like HDR at all but I find them appealing to create. What's your take on HDR?

2011-11-01T17:34:00.000-07:00

Had a short day today but still was able to get out and get a few shots. I was focusing mainly on video for a little project I've been kicking around but still did a few stills. This is in the NE Ohio Metroparks system and this area really is a beautiful place to be....The reasoning behind the shots today were to convince myself the D7000 is a good enough camera. Not so sure it is but its the one I got at the moment. That A77 has really messed with my head!

2011-10-29T18:16:00.000-07:00

Photography has once again consumed me....but not so much the shooting.....for me now its the teaching and instructing people on the gear and whats out there. I'd give anything to be able to travel and speak to people on whats new and whats cutting edge. I thrive on the new gear and the announcements from the top makers of their new products. I work every day around camera gear and get to play around with just about anything I want! I'm like a kid in a candy store.......BUT.....(you had to know there was a but coming) I am also the very proud new grandpa of a baby girl.

She is the air I breathe and as of right now she is living with us.....so I am so fortunate to see her daily! She will be 5 months old on the 6th of Nov. She's growing fast so I'm taking shots on a regular basis. I plan on making a movie of her life.....then presenting it on her 18th! She is so special to me that I would give up anything for her. Including photography! Luckily I do not have to do that .......anyways I hope to get on here more and be more active. Hope you enjoy the couple pics of my lovely Sadie Marie!

First week down!

2010-11-07T09:42:00.000-08:00

Well guys and girls.....I've finished my first full week at the new job. I gotta tell ya.....I LOVE IT!
Made some sales, learned a bunch and now, I work with a great group of people. It is a fun job and I think going to only help me with my photography.
Anyways, enough about my great fortune in finding a job that's more like play than work.
I was playing around with an image the other day and posted it for shit's and giggles!

After posting I got two people wanting to get a print and one wanted it a large Gallery Wrap! It's amazing what good things can come from idle time. I need to seriously make a website up to sell some of the better images. the stuff that would make good wall pieces.

Day off of the New Job!

2010-11-04T06:14:00.000-07:00

Well today is my first official day off!
I gotta say I am really enjoying working for Dodd Camera. The atmosphere couldn't be more comfortable and the staff are more than welcoming. Feels like a family there and hopefully I fit in, even it is in the role of the creepy uncle!
Yesterday I happened to take a call from a guy who seemed less than enthused to come in the store and look at the D7000. A 1500 camera. I told the other guys just in case he actually did come and buy it they would know that i had talked to him and let him know we had one and he could come check it out.
Well, he popped in about 2 minutes before I was scheduled to leave and I happened to greet him first. Well after about a two minute talk on the camera and its features he said "Write up!" then I suggested a couple other things and he was in need of a camera bag so sold one of those too. I do thoroughly enjoy my job.....more than I can express and I feel its going to be very easy to go into work anytime they ask!
I wish everyone was lucky enough to work in a field they enjoy!

Day one complete!

2010-11-01T13:06:00.000-07:00

Today was the first day of the new job.
I think I am really going to enjoy working in a camera store.
Today I already may have helped a woman get the results she is
wanting from her newly purchased camera. She has been in classes but still was having trouble with her D3100 Nikon's menus.
So I walked her through the menus and explained in terms she would understand how the menus work. Then the girl I was shadowing grabbed the Magic Lantern for the D3100.
That's a field guide of sorts to help out with all the settings and ins and outs of the camera. She seemed really pleased with the info and the help we provided and it was a very good impression on me of the type of things I will be working with.
I learned a lot of good info today and everyone was welcoming.
Tomorrow I go to the store that I will be assigned to for good and hope its as pleasant of an experience and as fun as it was today at the main store downtown.

Info on New job

2010-10-26T08:08:00.000-07:00

Well, I have been waiting for this for a little bit now. A real job. the photography jobs come and go and its nice having freedom but I definitely need a steady income.
I am starting a job at a camera store of all places!
I think this is a perfect fit for me. Just the fact that I'll be around photography all day long and seeing all the new product and customers who are also into the same hobby as I am will keep me motivated and inspired to keep shooting for my own pleasure.
I'm very excited about it.....
So, Monday I head downtown to the big store to see how the flow is from warehouse to shelves and repair center and rentals and all that. Then on Tuesday I will be going to the store where I will be based out of, at least for the time being, to start working!
I must be honest though, as boring as these days are lately I will miss the freedom to do as want when I want, but then again, last time I checked I'm not getting paid for the freedom!

Damschroder Shoot

2010-10-25T06:50:00.001-07:00

Today I'm meeting with a client to go over the senior portraits I did for them.
They seemed to be pleased but I am still always afraid they are just being nice!
I definitely need to build up that confidence in my work.
here are a couple of the shots and the rest can be seen on my flickr account.

Back At It, and LOVIN' LIFE!

2010-10-24T15:04:00.001-07:00

Well, its been so long. Ive been off work since I started this and its been a rough 3 years not working.....I went through so many hobbies its pathetic and now its come full circle. I got a few clients here and there and have done some jobs for people, really enjoying that! Also im getting back to shooting for the love of it!
Here are a couple from a State Park down in Southern Ohio. Hocking Hills State Park.

Arizona Trip

2009-04-01T14:19:00.000-07:00

I just returned from a trip to Sahuarita Arizona where my brother and his wife live. Fantastic trip despite the fact im still not able to do much at all and get tired very easy. However we did do alot of driving around and I did a lot of shooting out the car window. He would just pull over where ever I said to stop.
We did go to a few spots where I could sit down where ever I needed to like the Desert Museum. Benches every so often and no set pace. I really hate being sick when there is so much out there to do. I didnt get to do a whole lot of what I wanted to do but did get some good shots.

2008-12-12T19:12:00.000-08:00

This is just a touch of what I am trying to learn....I've gotten into brushes and using layers with them. There sure is alot more than I thought to using brushes correctly...
I have a long long way to go!

2008-09-09T09:30:00.000-07:00

Here are three shots that are going to be a start of a calendar. I am still up in the air about whether to make each shot the same style or if I should use some different styles so each one is unique? Any thoughts?
Ther are plenty of barns around ohio so i have plenty to chose from.

2008-08-30T04:47:00.000-07:00

this is from a few shots taken of my nephew. I was planning on some darker more urban feeling shots using him as the model but turned out it was a bit early and locations were not to what i wanted so ended up with these processed shots.....
Hope you like them!

2008-08-19T04:40:00.001-07:00

Hey guys, haven't been on in a while here or updated anything. Sorry for the lack of interest but really have been having a go of it as of late.
Anyways, here are a couple shots from a recent outing to the lake. Since my last post i have gotten a few gifts that are really making me get out there and shoot such as new gear!!! Im still trying to get my head around all the settings and the best ways to use the new body and lenses but I think I am starting to get the hang of it.
Hope you like them....they are both of a Museum ship down by the Rock N Roll Hall Of Fame in Cleveland. Its the William G Mather. The D200 and 10-20mm sigma wide angle really did do a goo job on these. The first had some processing done to it to get more of a glow to the sky. The second is pretty much how I saw it with a couple little tweaks.

Zoo outing in the Heat!

2008-06-13T14:05:00.001-07:00

These are two shots from a recent quick trip to the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo. It was close to 90 degrees so I did not hang around too long but managed a few decent shots....
I really like this flamingo shot...might be one of my best as far as the look and feel i get from it.
All i am doing these days is some basic post processing along the lines of clarity contrast and brightness. Also I give a vignette to the shots...
I can't seem to post one with a bit of vignette. Might be cause I read it helps keeps the viewers eyes in the frame. I think though I am over doing it a bit.....

2008-06-09T09:58:00.000-07:00

Had the day off sunday so I decided to get out and take some shots.....
Wasn't sure where i was headed and had a few spots in mind but remembered this place. I drove past several times and just caught the hint of a nice little stream. Once I pulled in there were loads of people and kids and cars and sunbathers and all sorts of things going on behind the trees. I used Qtpfsgui on these two and the landscape shot i actually used two layers one to glam blur the leaves of the trees and the rest sharpened. I like the looks of both and took many more some of which you can find on my flickr stream. It was a real neat little spot to shoot and probably not so much of a hidden gem as I originally thought.

2008-05-22T11:30:00.000-07:00

These two shots are a few of the 100 plus shots I took of my buddies amazing 04 cobra. Might look like jsut a mustang to most but this would crush most cars on the streets around my neck of the woods....any production sports car made in the us most likely.....609hp at the rear wheels is nothing to scoff at! Talk about a neck snapping take off I am sure this will accommodate.
Beautiful car which get babied better than Angelina and Brad's kids.....anyways i have about 10 more on my flickr page. you can see them by clicking the link to the right of this.
Hope you like them.... I really feel some came out great for only a simple set up. Next time I want to do a set up with some off camera flash at night!

Spring time Finally here....

2008-05-19T12:16:00.001-07:00

It's been a couple of great days lately for photos of clouds and landscapes....I am partial to big pillowy clouds with back light from the sun. Both of these have been played with a bit but for the most part the sky was blue fading to orange as the sun set.
I look forward to taking more shots like this in the future....hopefully with some great subjects involved!

2008-05-08T11:03:00.000-07:00

These two seem to love my neighbors tree and live in a little house on the other neighbors garage....so I get to watch these guys fly back and forth like a cat on crack! They never seem to sit in one spot so the fact I even got these two shots amaze me considering I was using a 55-200mm. Not that far away from them and yet decent shots. I'd like to get into birding but don't have the lens i need to break into it the right way. I think i am going to start a "Help Brad Get a Lens" fund.
Seriously though i really enjoy watching these guys since I am a bird lover to begin with.

2008-05-02T10:45:00.000-07:00

I'm throwing this photo up due to the fact I love the look of the beard and the eyes...so smoothed out and almost reminds me of the paintings you see from the 50's and 60's of Jesus. Really soft and smooth looking. Not that I am comparing us two.
I really am lacking inspiration to go out and shoot even though the weather is getting so nice....except for the week of rain coming its not time to get out and create those great shots and try to upload one or two without an hour of processing.....
I have been asked how this look is achieved.....So here is the short answer.....
1st- I duplicate the photo and sharpen one for the eyes and increase brightness and contrast.
2nd-with sharp layer on bottom I take top layer and do a glamour blur action on it which basically just selects areas to be smoothed out so to speak. I use to use the available action online but after using it enough I figured out my own method
but the action itself works great. Here is the trick after applying the action completely I reapply a blur but only the blur I do not continue through the entire action. I cancel after the blur is applied and then delete the layer mask which the action creates.

That is basically it after some color adjustments and erasing the eyes on the top layer to expose the sharp brighter eyes underneath. Any other questions lease feel free to ask!

2008-05-01T08:54:00.000-07:00

Well, I've been MIA for a while so I figured you deserved a few extra shots. I have realized that my Journey Through The Viewfinder has turned into a Quest to master Photoshop! I have really had more time than i should have lately since being out of work a few months. I decided it was as good a time as any to get my CS3 skills up to speed. These four shots are really just a few examples of the different types of processing I am learning and there are so many more. I am still trying to figure out the niche I think i fit into but finally I believe I am getting closer. There are tons of portrait photographers out there so thats out. I don't travel a lot so a National Geographical style of photography is not going to happen any time soon. Photojournalism is not one that particularly interests me for many reasons but mostly I feel its a bit of an intrusive style of photography. Nothing against them, I just dont think I would be comfortable enough to get in the places and settings to get the shots for newsprint.
After eliminating some types of photography I thought about all the processing I am doing. It really is an art form to me and from feedback others believe it is too. I asked myself how can this art be an asset to me? YAHTZEE!!!!! How about a business taking others photos or photos I have taken and give them an artistic spin? I think the right plan of attack and marketing and this might work. It could be your pet pooch chasing a ball or the house of your dreams or the birth of your first Grandchild.
Whatever you wanted done, hopefully i have a style that will work to create a more magical catch of a single moment.
So with this decided now its on to figuring out the actual execution of something like this......but hey, don't all great things start with an idea?

2008-03-22T13:24:00.000-07:00

This is a series I call midnight screams......
I took the same imagae and created nine different variations and collaged them all together....
Just some down time and bored.....

2008-03-22T05:55:00.000-07:00

Creating Light.....thats what I did here. Took the original and tried creating a spotlight look to the table and book.
Its takes a couple layers and an underexposed copy of the original.
Take the underexposed and lay over the original and then take out the eraser tool and lower the opacity. Then you "draw" the light where you want it fading it out as you get to the edges you want. You'll now have a photo that has a ray of light cutting through it! Might need to adjust the original bottom layer and brighten it if the ray is not intense enough.....

2008-03-07T08:25:00.000-08:00

Here is a before and after of a shot taken at Half Moon Bay. I wanted to give the boring before picture a "feel".
I think I gave it some more dramatic lighting and also it gives you a certain feeling when viewing it. Unlike the first which just seems to be a boring flat image of a beach.
Boy i miss this place!

2008-03-05T13:05:00.000-08:00

These are two more from the zoo adventure on monday. I wanted to create a "in the shadows" type of look. Both these shots were taken outside just before noon and sun shining. So with a bit of post work I think I achieved the look.
The crane head is abit more shadowed as I was attempting to "throw" light on it as if it was being lit by a flashlight or torch light.
A bit too shadowed maybe but i think works.

2008-03-03T11:21:00.000-08:00

Went to the zoo this morning. Was a great day for the beginning of march and its suppose to turn cold tonight so I thought i better get out and shoot some while I got the chance.
I took almost 300 pics but only 12 were worth keeping. Which isn't a bad ratio in terms of photography. Here is one of the better ones I caught. My plan was to get good shots without all the post processing I have been doing. This one is quite pleasing to me.

2008-03-01T06:37:00.000-08:00

New technique...might be hard to see but its a real photo from downtown and with the applied effect it seems like a miniature.
It's a simple and fast process but needs the right photo with some depth and objects in it to look right.

2008-02-28T06:06:00.000-08:00

I caught this yesterday. It had been snowing for almost 30 hours or so and I had plowed 3 times in that time. Finally while making dinner I looked out the window and found the sun breaking through the clouds casting shadows across the snow.
I thought this created a nice soft feeling and a glimpse of the weather to come.....
Come on Spring!

2008-02-27T12:27:00.000-08:00

Dreaming and wishing of being back here. This is at Half Moon Bay in California. I was there back in october and ever sense I dream to be back. One day!

2008-02-27T06:10:00.000-08:00

My nephew bought a ball python a week or so ago and we decided to take some pics of the lovely little girl. She was so cooperative. Where ever I placed her she pretty much stayed.....
Here is one with a cowboy hat I have. I thought it sort of went hand in hand...not sure why.

2008-02-25T12:16:00.000-08:00

This is a composition of a view different shots....mostly ones I took but the rose is from a friend.
This is a composite image that I am playing around with for a card or a poem background. Something Light and opaque looking that text will work well on. I will post the results after adding the text and see what you think.
Here is the outcome......really frustrated me due to a stupid error on my part but finally got it all together.

2008-02-20T08:53:00.000-08:00

Wouldn't it be nice to have a car like this one? I was playing around with product shots and decided to try and get a hot wheel and see what I can do with it. I was simply trying to showcase the car and its lines. Obviously not a real car but still looks pretty good I think. I had it lit from the side and from front with sb-600. Side lighting was a plain old 60 watt incandescent bulb in a dome fixture. I need to get some real lighting for stuff like this but that'll have to wait.

2008-02-17T21:15:00.000-08:00

Hi again. This shot was not only educational but a fun one to do since it consisted of drinking the contents first. I guess looking back it was not exactly necessary but i do think someone recommended it...?
Okay seriously though this shot consists of a couple duplicate layers. One being a strong blur and another being a strong contrast and highlights adjustment. Then some simple erasing of the top blur layer exposing the in focus labels where I wanted.
Some might appreciate this more than others but it really had a purpose. Im my photography group we have a monday assignment which this week is Product photography-Beer. So I figured it was right up my alley and I took part in it.

2008-02-17T11:55:00.000-08:00

I spent the early afternoon yesterday in the freezing cold metroparks trouncing through snow and unsure footing to get to this place. I spotted it out the car window and thought it might have some interesting shots.
I think these two are the best I got and thats just not acceptable. It was a great day to shoot but my results were less than desired in my eyes. oh well, you can't win them all.

2008-02-15T07:51:00.000-08:00

yesteday was Valentines Day so I made a little something for my wife. Much better than the macaroni heart I was planning on getting her besides I got hungry and made me some macaroni and cheese.
This is just a background image of a rose that a friend of mine took. Then I took one of our wedding photos and added to the left and created a box to the right to add text. She liked it and didn't put me farther in debt.
It is a great feeling making her smile from something I created as oppose to something I bought.

2008-02-14T07:35:00.000-08:00

I thought with all the images posted I would throw up a comparison. I realized you really the viewers have no idea the differences in my shots and where they came from. So I took a shot I snapped at the restaurant and did a slight photo like edit then played with it how i always do. What do you think....the aged textured one reminds me of an old movie poster or war sign of some sort.

2008-02-13T15:53:00.000-08:00

Today I was feeling down so I went out aimlessly looking for something that would take my mind off things.
I ended up wishing I were some place else and the one spot I know of that gives me that feeling is the 100 Bomb Squad.
I go there sometimes and park watching the airplanes and today I took my camera along. I didnt see too many planes but got a couple and here is one I did a bit of work on. Added a clouds layer a fill layer a wall texture and then did my adjustments and added a frame. Nothing too fancy but I like the feeling with the orange sky layer.

Kitchen in the Rain

2008-02-13T06:28:00.000-08:00

A rainforest is a place with little comforts but as you can see somehow the explorers there on extended stays made the best of it.
This is a shot of a display at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo showing the settings these scientists were in during their long stints in the jungle. It doesn't look like it has Viking stoves and Sub-Zero fridges but given the location I dont think its all that bad.
I took the original image and applied another HDR technique to a single image that had been saved as three separate exposures.
Not a true HDR but does help out a bit.

2008-02-12T06:52:00.000-08:00

Reflections are a great thing in photography. Here is a simple 2 inch ball bearing i shot into. There are loads of ideas you can come up with using a ball bearing and will get a few good ones on here this summer. For now its just a quick shot to see how clear the reflection would come out. The hardest part is keeping the ball clean of fingerprints.

An Extreme HDR for example

2008-02-10T08:15:00.001-08:00

This is just to show you how some go overboard. It has its place with landscape and artistic shots but as of late there has been a flood of these shots on websites and forums. I really like the look sometimes and think it makes a great wall piece in some cases but to do this with every shot in your portfolio is a bit much to me.

My Sanctuary in HDR

2008-02-10T06:22:00.001-08:00

Well, I finally got a decent HDR image. First off a short idea about what HDR photography is.
HDR stands for High Dynamic Range. Basically its what our eyes see that the camera sensor cannot. The shadows and highlights in the close and far of the scene. when taking a photo you will not be able to expose all the areas so for HDR images you need to take multiple shots at various exposures then merge them all together into one HDR image. After being merged you do a bit of tone mapping to your liking. Tone mapping is just adjusting the color and contrast and lightness to your liking. Its got more technical reasons but thats the simple rundown.
Most often HDR images are of landscapes. They seem to have the infinite focal distance and the range of highlights and shadows that really work well with this type of shots. Like all things, there are feuds among HDR imagers. Some like the fanciful cartoonish images and some like the pure realistic look. I like the to look almost real but still see its been worked on. I dont see the point in doing all the work and still looking like it could have came from the camera that way.... I guess I like to show off a bit.
This shot was taken from 7 different shots at one stop apart. View it large and notice the soft earthy look of the basement. I think it gives a real nice effect......

Santa Cruz

2008-02-08T08:00:00.000-08:00

Doesn't this look like a good place to call home? This was taken at the boardwalk in Santa Cruz. On my visit to CA. this past october my wife and I went down to Santa Cruz for the day. It was a bit chilly by the water but very peaceful and calming.
We watched the gulls and the boats. There wasn't a cloud in the sky which doesn't lead to the best of shooting conditions so I added about 5 layers to this sky of various shades of blue and reds and purples.
I fell in love with CA. and really am wanting to move there soon! It is one of those places that living conditions can take a back seat to location. I think about being out there every day. The area my wife was in was San Jose which was a great midway point from San Francisco and Santa Cruz. Another terrific place was Half Moon Bay. I can see myself being happy there.......

Cleveland Clinic

2008-02-08T07:51:00.001-08:00

Hi again. This is a shot I took from the 7th floor of a parking garage. I ma very familiar with this garage since I spent a lot of time at Cleveland Clinic over the years. It connects to the A building where all my appointments have been since 1991.
It was a rather boring and grey day when I took the shot so I tried giving it some interest and turned it into yet another heavily post processed shot. the sky was very plain and boring and once the contrast was increased there were large areas that got blown out. I increased the shadows and highlights a couple tomes to get the various layers of sky giving some depth to it.
This and the others i took from there have put the thought in my head that I need wide angle lens. My 18-55mm lens is nice but really not as wide as I would like. I think the 10-20mm Sigma would be a good choice!

Taquilla Sunrise

2008-02-06T19:36:00.000-08:00

This here is a great photo that many of you that fly Continental out of Hopkins most likely seen before. This was taken on a trip to Las Vegas. I only had my Canon G5 then but still held on to the shot. I knew someday i would make something of it...
I took the shot and skewed the corners giving it a bit of a shape. I added the text layer and warped it....
Not sure if I took too much color out of the shot? I might have to rework it.

2008-02-04T22:49:00.000-08:00

After the first leaves shot got a huge response on my Flickr stream I decided to take a dead leaves shot and try and mimic the response. I just took the plain shot of some random leaves and turned it into this.
Not really random shot it was shot with composition in mind but most wouldn't know it.
Hope you like it!

Something A bit Different

2008-02-04T22:21:00.000-08:00

This is a favorite shot of mine. Not that its that great a shot but the feel it gives me. This was taken the day before my wife left for California. MAybe two days but whos counting? We went down to the lake to slow time down for a minute. I was walking around taking photos since she will never pose and she decided to just sit down on the rocks. As I came back towards her I noticed the boat off in the distance and a scene came to me immediately of someone contemplating a different life or journey of some sort that they would like to go on. Like the one she was about to embark on. also the thoughts of "doing the right thing" and maybe even a thought of sailing away......going away.....
Well she left and now after almost 5 months is finally back in my arms and I am never letting go again. It was probably the hardest thing I ever had to do and I'm sure as hard for her being there all by herself in a new land.

Lake Erie Pier....

2008-02-04T22:01:00.001-08:00

This is a new favorite place of mine. Its down on the north marginal. A great place to sit and think and figure out what its all about. When I Sit down there I tend to lose track of time and my thoughts get very random. Almost like a dream state.....
That is the reason for the blur in this photo. I wanted to have the viewers eyes focus on the pier and the people without their eyes reeling around the water. I hope you like it.

Coit Tower San Francisco

2008-02-02T16:17:00.000-08:00

these two shots are of Coit Tower up on the hill from the Piers. I went out to visit my wife who was working out there over the last few months. We spent the day walking the wharf, looking at Alcatraz and the Sea Lions at Pier 39. We spent a few hours at Hard Rock and then the drive home. It was a shame I couldn't have spent more time in the streets of San Fran and taking shots of the Bridges. Hopefully I will get another chance to get out there from more than just a day trip. There's alot of things to shoot there and so little time......
The second shot is the one that might be hanging on some San Francisco residents wall in the near future. I was emailed from a gentleman who saw my photo and asked if it was for sale and told me that his father or father-in-law had something to do with building it and thought it would look good framed and be a great present.

Keep It Together Brad!

2008-02-01T19:23:00.000-08:00

This is a Self portrait for a group on Flickr. Its basically a Self portrait a week for a year. Im doing so well at it since I hate my photos and like everything to be creative instead of just a different shirt or sitting instead of standing.
I've gotten a lot of responses on this one in a short time. Must have done something right.
The original photo was more color and a bit flat. In photoshop I upped the contrast drastically and then upped the exposure to create the high key effect. After that I increased the sharpening to bring out the grittiness of the face and beard. I then cropped it to the size i wanted creating the portrait layout and cloned out some of the space above the head to get the total white background. It somewhat resembles an HDR image but isn't. I think this is more of the style I like. I am big on post processing and really enjoy trying new techniques.

Composite Image

2008-02-01T11:52:00.001-08:00

This is a shot for a flickr group. It started out as a plain old landscape of a vineyard.
its made up of 3 other images along with the original landscape one and then some framing and a text layer.
In all it took about an hour to get like it is now from the 1 original image. This is one that someone asked to buy.
Of course I can not sell it since its not my image but good to know it warranted an offer from someone.

Leaves Of Fall

2008-02-01T06:30:00.000-08:00

This is one of my earlier shots with my nikon D40. It was just a few leaves with some raindrops on them. I was really just out in the yard testing the camera but as i went through my old shots I thought I could could make it a bit better in post.
I use CS3 and just upped saturation contrast and sharpened. Then lowered brightness and upped contrast a bit more.
Finally i tweaked the shadows and highlights and added a frame. I am planning on getting this printed to about 20 inches or so and see how it comes out.

A brief Introduction

2008-02-01T06:18:00.000-08:00

Hi everybody. I am finally going to delve into the world of blogs even after promising I would never have one! Well here it goes........

My names Brad but you can call me pinball. I'm starting this blog basically for myself and family but if anyone else gets a kick out of it then so be it! It will be mostly about my photography pursuits but I am most definitely going to get off on tangents that make absolutely no sense at all!

A little back story.......

It started a long time ago in a little town in Virginia. My dad was 4 years old......okay maybe to far back.

I was born and raised in Cleveland Ohio and a suburb of Cleveland named BrookPark. Been here all my life really. My Parents say I actually lived in VA. for a few minutes but deny that. I'm no hillbilly!

I am by nature a creative person. I have through the years been into writing, poetry, drawing, and other various art forms. Photography is one that I recently just got into but am fast learning that it is going to be a life long passion and hopefully net me a few dollars once I learn the business side of it. I have already had a couple people offer me a few dollars for two of my pieces. We'll see them later but for now lets just say I am more than excited to have anyone want to buy something I shot!

I'll leave it at that for today and leave you with a image to get started.