• Camera Equipment

    Being Spoiled

    January 14, 2012
    Lamp Shadow

    Over a year ago I bought the Tamron 17-50mm f2.8 lens. I’ve wanted a fast zoom lens for a long time but I could not justify the purchase of the Nikon 17-55mm f2.8 nor did i rally want to lug around a large lens. So, for a lot less money I purchased the Tamron. I’ve been pleased with it. I like it’s smaller size and enjoy the 2.8 aperture. The extra stop of light adds one brush to our palette for creative images. I found myself using it for almost all my work and decided to sell my Nikon 18-200mm VR lens. After sock stuffing a few dollars for about six months I purchased the 50mm f1.4 lens, another brush to work with.
    When I purchased the used D300 as my backup I also bought the 18-70mm kit lens. I always read good reviews about this lens and thought why not, expecting to use it for my landscape and nature images. I don’t know if I have a bad lens but it sure has a lot of difficulty auto-focusing. It’s so frustrating I’ve put on the shelf. It may be that the faster glass has spoiled me.
    I’m liking being spoiled!

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  • Avian,  Plants/Nature,  trees

    Perched

    January 13, 2012
    Perched

    As I took a few images of this tree a hawk decided to enter the scene. I have a couple of images of it as it flew in from the left side and perched on one of the branches. I like the ones of him coming in but this one of him perched spoke to me me. So, here it is!

    I start another trip today then head for Phoenix on Sunday morning to visit family. Enjoy the weekend!

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  • landscape,  Plants/Nature,  sunrises,  trees

    Surreal

    January 12, 2012
    Two Trees at Sunrise

    This is one of the surreal presets found in HDR Effects Pro. Again, it is three images at on stop. I chose HDR effects Pro because it felt their presets were not as surreal and closer to the natural feel. I’m not a fan of the surreal images we see done with HDR but as with most people I have to also play around with the software.

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  • Canon Powershot G12,  Cityscapes/Urban

    What I See

    January 9, 2012
    Locked and Secured

    Why do I see what I see? It’s a question that wanders through my mind every so often. I know we all see the world with different lenses and filters. That leads to another question, What sort of lens do I see with?

    A couple weeks ago while walking back to the hotel with two other members of my crew I noticed this bicycle locked in the bicycle stand. I had to stop because I knew there was an image there. They stopped and waited as I walked towards the scene, composed and took one shot. I then joined them and continued towards the hotel. Nothing was said to me as some crew members have come accustomed to my passion. When reviewing the image on my computer I wondered if they saw the scene I saw. A bicycle in a bicycle rack is a common scene on our city streets. Were they capable of isolating the bicycle from the whole scene where a photographer does on a regular basis? We humans have a field of view somewhere between 160 and 208 degrees. We scan constantly and pick out items that resonate with us. I smile to myself as I realize how often I see the world through my viewfinder which is usually somewhere between 17 and 140 mm. It’s what I see.

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  • Candid Portraits,  coffee shops,  People/Portraits

    Morning Ritual

    January 8, 2012
    Morning Ritual

    “Ritual is necessary for us to know anything.” 

    Ken Kese

    These two are regulars at the coffee shop. They come in and sit at the same table. He plays with a game while she reads. He drinks a juice and she drinks coffee. I took this image without them knowing it then showed them the image. I was surprised how excited she was. It tells a story of a mother and her sons morning ritual before school and work. Hope they had a good day!

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  • Canon Powershot G12,  Cityscapes/Urban,  Documentary/Street

    Not One to Loiter

    January 7, 2012
    No Loitering

    I’m not one to stay in one place too long, no grass growing under my feet. For one thing I find it uncomfortable to sit or stand too long as the aging back gets stiff and sore. But I do not describe myself as an antsy person either who is constantly tapping the table with a pencil, shaking my foot from side-to-side or bouncing my knee nervously. Yet, I am capable, and find it necessary, to be still and quiet where I enjoy my form of prayer and meditation.

    This work I do as a flight attendant fits me. I’ve discovered I’m not a very good passenger. I would much rather be working the flight rather than sitting. And, during our overnights I need to get out and about. Outside my hotel room there is a world to experience and people to encounter. I need to meet these people and hear of their stories, their dreams, their pain. Something within me needs to “move it, move it” as they song goes in the movie Madagascar. I guess you can say I’m not one to loiter.

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  • People/Portraits,  Self-portraits

    Here It Is

    January 6, 2012
    Taking Notes

    All I can do in my writing is to stimulate a certain amount of thought, clarify some technical facts and date my work. But when I preach sharpness, brilliancy, scale, etc., I am just mouthing words, because no words can really describe those terms and qualities it takes the actual print to say, “here it is.”

    Ansel Adams

    I wanted to create a self portrait for my Friday post so I setup a scene and worked at it for a good hour. Nothing. I’d had a long day and was tired. Just as I was ready to give up I envisioned an image that would work and was different. I quickly set it up but for some reason the camera would not fire. Now this is the used camera I just purchased so I was a little concerned. But, after taking a deep breath, pausing when agitated, I realized I’d not put my memory card back in the camera. I told you I was tired. Anyway, here it is.

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  • Camera Equipment,  Candid Portraits,  People/Portraits,  Photography

    Riley

    January 4, 2012
    Riley

    “If you are out there shooting, things will happen for you. If you’re not out there, you’ll only hear about it.”

    Jay Maisel

    I’m reading a book where the author suggests doing an exercise where we put our digital cameras down and grab a film camera then shoot a few rolls of film through it. His suggestion caused me to wondered where I could find a film camera for such an exercise. But, I just put the suggestion on the shelf and forgot about it. Well, later on that very day I unintentionally discovered my old Nikon FG-20 camera with a Nikon Series E 50mm f1.8 lens attached. I’d forgotten I even had this camera. Not sure it works so, I’m going to search for a battery and try it out. Of course I’ll try black and white. Hope this does not inspire me to search on ebay for an M6.

    This is Riley taken at a coffee shop last December. She now has a camera with one fixed lens and is on her way to developing her craft. I think she already has a good eye. I also enjoy framing a pretty young lady in my viewfinder.

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  • architecture,  Candid Portraits,  Cityscapes/Urban,  People/Portraits

    Walking the Streets

    January 3, 2012
    Walking the Streets

    I only know how to approach a place by walking. For what does a street photographer do but walk and watch and wait and talk, and then watch and wait some more, trying to remain confident that the unexpected, the unknown, or the secret heart of the known awaits just around the corner.

    Alex Webb

    I did not wait long for this man to walk into the scene, it just took on its own life. I was drawn to the sign and boarded up windows. He just happened to walk into the frame as I raised my camera. If I’d not been ready, this scene would not exist. One  of the traits a street photographer needs.

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  • landscape,  People/Portraits,  Self-portraits,  sunrises

    Waiting

    January 2, 2012
    Waiting

    Adopt the pace of Nature; her secret is patience. – Ralph Waldo Emerson

    This is not the image I had envisioned when I left the apartment. I had to change plans when I got there. The last time I shot this barn at sunrise I did not have an oil drilling rig off to my left. Damn! How quickly man changes things. Saddens me. 🙁 Anyway,  I went ahead and waited for the sun to rise. Waiting can be tough in our “microwave” society, we want things now. If I do not take in all the beauty around me at these times then what I thought was patience was only an endurance of time to get an image. On this cold December morning with a slight wind blowing in from the north, in this case my backside, it was a bit of both, a test of patience and endurance. I’m gaining more patience as I add each birthday. Waiting.

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