If ever there were a picture that summed up my niece, this is it!
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Showing posts with label photography. Show all posts
Showing posts with label photography. Show all posts
Jul 17, 2014
Mar 23, 2012
Mar 8, 2012
The Gazebo
The gazebo across the street from our house continues to be a photographic inspiration/challenge. I'm not sure how many more ways I can shoot this thing, but it certainly has been good practice for shooting in a variety of conditions.
This time I went for the night shot under a full moon. The gazebo itself is very brightly lit inside, but even with the full moon, the roof is completely dark. I wanted to show the sky in some detail without turning the moon and gazebo into giant blobs of white light. I was using my 50mm prime lens on my Sony A580. I don't technically know anything about night photography, but my thinking was to go with ISO 100 to minimize noise and shoot with a slower shutter speed (since I had a stationary subject). The clouds, though, weren't stationary and I didn't like the look of them with a really long exposure. So I opened up the aperture all the way to f/1.8 which let me fire the shutter at 1/4. It took an hour of editing tweaks (and lots of trial and error), but I'm pretty pleased with the end result.
And here are the other pictures in the "series."
This time I went for the night shot under a full moon. The gazebo itself is very brightly lit inside, but even with the full moon, the roof is completely dark. I wanted to show the sky in some detail without turning the moon and gazebo into giant blobs of white light. I was using my 50mm prime lens on my Sony A580. I don't technically know anything about night photography, but my thinking was to go with ISO 100 to minimize noise and shoot with a slower shutter speed (since I had a stationary subject). The clouds, though, weren't stationary and I didn't like the look of them with a really long exposure. So I opened up the aperture all the way to f/1.8 which let me fire the shutter at 1/4. It took an hour of editing tweaks (and lots of trial and error), but I'm pretty pleased with the end result.
And here are the other pictures in the "series."
Oct 31, 2011
Sep 20, 2011
Sep 14, 2011
Jul 12, 2011
Easily Distracted
There were a million productive things I could have been doing last night, but... photographing the thunderstorm seemed the most worthwhile.
Jun 27, 2011
I Love Taking Pictures
I was going to reply to some recent comments about my photography, but it started to get so long that I decided to turn it into a full blown post. A very long post.
First, thank you for the kind words. I think my photography has improved immensely over the years (especially since having kids). It's one of those skills, especially with a vast resource like the internet, that you can develop on your own and at your own pace and see meaningful growth. It's probably one of the main reasons that 83% of stay-at-home-parent-bloggers list photography as a hobby. I figured it's either learn to take pictures or learn to code iPhone apps. (I'll get to that eventually, I'm sure.)
Yes, I'm still shooting with my trusty Minolta. I did my usual months upon months of research when I bought my first film SLR and went with Minolta. Love that camera. Then when I decided to go digital I did more months of research and decided to stay with Minolta (plus I didn't want to buy all new lenses compatible with a different manufacturer's mounting system). It was unfortunate that Minolta sold their camera business to Sony. Sony made many of Minolta's components, so it wasn't a big technological shake up, but something still changed. Sony still makes a great product -- my sister has one of the Sony DSLRs birthed from the Minolta buy and she takes gorgeous photos with it. I think it was mostly the vibe that changed. Minolta users seem to be a fiercely loyal group with great passion for photography. Minolta understood that and had a cult-like following. I think Sony knows that, too, but they are fully entrenched in the SLR pissing contest with Canon and Nikon. They're still making good cameras, just without the warm fuzzy feelings.
My current equipment (and Amazon price):
Konica Minolta Maxxum 5D 6.1MP DSLR (Body Only) ($325 used) - I love this camera. Simple to use, with a great button layout/manual control, she's a 6.1 megapixel wonder from 2005. (Megapixel counts are definitely not the end all, be all in DSLRs.) This camera has taken plenty of abuse and still works wonderfully. One of the reasons I went with the Minolta is the anti-shake mechanism in the body. It works well and means that any and all lenses get the benefit of anti-shake. Canon and Nikon add the anti-shake feature on a lens by lens basis so you pay extra for any lens with that feature. Sony has continued to include anti-shake in their camera bodies as opposed to the lenses. This camera does lack some of the newer DSLR features and is a little on the slow side when it comes to autofocus and metering, but all in all I think it takes great photos.
Sony 50mm f/1.8 SAM DT Lens ($149 new) - Fast (big aperture) lenses can be extremely expensive, even in the thousands of dollars range. But, much like my camera, I went with a less expensive but good enough option. I haven't had this lens very long, but so far I have zero complaints. At the very least, it creates much better images than the kit lens that came with the camera. I could have bought a comparable yet higher tiered lens for almost $400, but I'm not sure how much better the results could be with my camera.
So that's it. No external flashes. No diffusers. Basically, you could buy my current rig for under $500. I have a tripod, but I only break that out for paid portraiture gigs. I have a kit lens and a zoom lens, too, but I don't really use those anymore. I have a long, long, long way to go until I'm a master of my current gear, so I don't really see much point in spending on upgraded equipment. My photos have way more room for improvement due to my skill development rather than better equipment. Ultimately it's the photographer, not the equipment that takes great photos. Sure, at some point I'll probably outgrow my Minolta, especially if my professional aspirations continue to advance. Shooting portraits can definitely benefit from a speedier camera and an external flash is number one on my wish list right now. In the meantime though, I'll stick with what I have until it wears out.
Now about the pictures -- I think my photos have been getting better as of late, which I can attribute to three things:
1) Learning how to process the files. I had no idea how bad of a hack I was until I started researching editing on the internet. I use Aperture to process my RAW files. The software is plenty user friendly, but I had no idea how in depth it is when it comes to editing. I've still got a long way to go in learning how to use the software and how to use it effectively.
2) Buying a prime lens. My old go-to lens had a maximum aperture of f/3.5 while the new lens is f/1.8. That's a ton more leeway on lighting. There's no zoom with this lens so it requires more legwork, but it's so much more flexible when it comes to lighting. That flexibility is crucial since I'm operating with a pop-up flash as opposed to an attached strobe light.
3) Learning how to really use the camera. I've had this camera for 5 or so years now and I'm still learning how to use it to its fullest potential. I typically shoot in aperture priority mode with manual ISO settings (I set the aperture, the camera sets the shutter speed), but there is so much more to it than that. Color profiles, white balance, exposure compensation, metering mode, autofocus settings, bracketing... plenty to keep me busy for awhile.
Now while I've been making great strides on the technical side of things, the real challenge is on the artistic side. No matter how proficient I am with the camera and no matter how sweet my gear is or isn't, the real mountain to climb is developing an eye for composition. In some ways, composing the shot is everything. A great photographer can take awesome pictures with a disposable camera because they have the eye for capturing great shots. There are guidelines and tips that help, but those will only take you to "good." There's no handbook for getting to "great." For all I know, it might be impossible to even train yourself up to "great." Maybe you are just born with it or maybe you aren't. I hope not. I think I know it when I see greatness in other people's photographs, so I'm at least encouraged by that fact. I'm not exactly sure how you personally make the leap up, but my current course of action is to look at TONS of great photos and take lots of not so great photos. My RSS reader is full of blogs that I follow because the blogger takes great photos. On a daily basis I look at dozens of photos from photographers I admire. I examine, I compare, I critique. Again and again and again. I hope it's slowly sinking into my brain. I hope my eye is changing, getting stronger.
Maybe I've peaked. Maybe not. Either way, it's not that important. I love taking pictures.
First, thank you for the kind words. I think my photography has improved immensely over the years (especially since having kids). It's one of those skills, especially with a vast resource like the internet, that you can develop on your own and at your own pace and see meaningful growth. It's probably one of the main reasons that 83% of stay-at-home-parent-bloggers list photography as a hobby. I figured it's either learn to take pictures or learn to code iPhone apps. (I'll get to that eventually, I'm sure.)
Yes, I'm still shooting with my trusty Minolta. I did my usual months upon months of research when I bought my first film SLR and went with Minolta. Love that camera. Then when I decided to go digital I did more months of research and decided to stay with Minolta (plus I didn't want to buy all new lenses compatible with a different manufacturer's mounting system). It was unfortunate that Minolta sold their camera business to Sony. Sony made many of Minolta's components, so it wasn't a big technological shake up, but something still changed. Sony still makes a great product -- my sister has one of the Sony DSLRs birthed from the Minolta buy and she takes gorgeous photos with it. I think it was mostly the vibe that changed. Minolta users seem to be a fiercely loyal group with great passion for photography. Minolta understood that and had a cult-like following. I think Sony knows that, too, but they are fully entrenched in the SLR pissing contest with Canon and Nikon. They're still making good cameras, just without the warm fuzzy feelings.
My current equipment (and Amazon price):
Konica Minolta Maxxum 5D 6.1MP DSLR (Body Only) ($325 used) - I love this camera. Simple to use, with a great button layout/manual control, she's a 6.1 megapixel wonder from 2005. (Megapixel counts are definitely not the end all, be all in DSLRs.) This camera has taken plenty of abuse and still works wonderfully. One of the reasons I went with the Minolta is the anti-shake mechanism in the body. It works well and means that any and all lenses get the benefit of anti-shake. Canon and Nikon add the anti-shake feature on a lens by lens basis so you pay extra for any lens with that feature. Sony has continued to include anti-shake in their camera bodies as opposed to the lenses. This camera does lack some of the newer DSLR features and is a little on the slow side when it comes to autofocus and metering, but all in all I think it takes great photos.
Sony 50mm f/1.8 SAM DT Lens ($149 new) - Fast (big aperture) lenses can be extremely expensive, even in the thousands of dollars range. But, much like my camera, I went with a less expensive but good enough option. I haven't had this lens very long, but so far I have zero complaints. At the very least, it creates much better images than the kit lens that came with the camera. I could have bought a comparable yet higher tiered lens for almost $400, but I'm not sure how much better the results could be with my camera.
So that's it. No external flashes. No diffusers. Basically, you could buy my current rig for under $500. I have a tripod, but I only break that out for paid portraiture gigs. I have a kit lens and a zoom lens, too, but I don't really use those anymore. I have a long, long, long way to go until I'm a master of my current gear, so I don't really see much point in spending on upgraded equipment. My photos have way more room for improvement due to my skill development rather than better equipment. Ultimately it's the photographer, not the equipment that takes great photos. Sure, at some point I'll probably outgrow my Minolta, especially if my professional aspirations continue to advance. Shooting portraits can definitely benefit from a speedier camera and an external flash is number one on my wish list right now. In the meantime though, I'll stick with what I have until it wears out.
Now about the pictures -- I think my photos have been getting better as of late, which I can attribute to three things:
1) Learning how to process the files. I had no idea how bad of a hack I was until I started researching editing on the internet. I use Aperture to process my RAW files. The software is plenty user friendly, but I had no idea how in depth it is when it comes to editing. I've still got a long way to go in learning how to use the software and how to use it effectively.
2) Buying a prime lens. My old go-to lens had a maximum aperture of f/3.5 while the new lens is f/1.8. That's a ton more leeway on lighting. There's no zoom with this lens so it requires more legwork, but it's so much more flexible when it comes to lighting. That flexibility is crucial since I'm operating with a pop-up flash as opposed to an attached strobe light.
3) Learning how to really use the camera. I've had this camera for 5 or so years now and I'm still learning how to use it to its fullest potential. I typically shoot in aperture priority mode with manual ISO settings (I set the aperture, the camera sets the shutter speed), but there is so much more to it than that. Color profiles, white balance, exposure compensation, metering mode, autofocus settings, bracketing... plenty to keep me busy for awhile.
Now while I've been making great strides on the technical side of things, the real challenge is on the artistic side. No matter how proficient I am with the camera and no matter how sweet my gear is or isn't, the real mountain to climb is developing an eye for composition. In some ways, composing the shot is everything. A great photographer can take awesome pictures with a disposable camera because they have the eye for capturing great shots. There are guidelines and tips that help, but those will only take you to "good." There's no handbook for getting to "great." For all I know, it might be impossible to even train yourself up to "great." Maybe you are just born with it or maybe you aren't. I hope not. I think I know it when I see greatness in other people's photographs, so I'm at least encouraged by that fact. I'm not exactly sure how you personally make the leap up, but my current course of action is to look at TONS of great photos and take lots of not so great photos. My RSS reader is full of blogs that I follow because the blogger takes great photos. On a daily basis I look at dozens of photos from photographers I admire. I examine, I compare, I critique. Again and again and again. I hope it's slowly sinking into my brain. I hope my eye is changing, getting stronger.
Maybe I've peaked. Maybe not. Either way, it's not that important. I love taking pictures.
May 10, 2011
Super Heroes
I bought a new tripod and the kids obliged me with a "super hero" fight while I checked out my new rig. The resulting images were the perfect opportunity for my first attempt at an animated gif.
Then I realized my first gif was the perfect opportunity to use the "lens flare" filter in Photoshop Elements.
I can't wait to show the kids their new powers...
Then I realized my first gif was the perfect opportunity to use the "lens flare" filter in Photoshop Elements.
I can't wait to show the kids their new powers...
Dec 14, 2010
We're Not Pregnant!
We're not pregnant. But the next time we are, we're getting pregnancy photos taken. Specifically this pose. And we're sending it to everyone we know.
Thank you to Rebecca at Unexplained x2 for bringing this collection of Awkward Family Photos to my attention. You have to check out the whole thing.
 |
| "I think we should give the 8x10 to your mother." |
Thank you to Rebecca at Unexplained x2 for bringing this collection of Awkward Family Photos to my attention. You have to check out the whole thing.
Oct 13, 2010
Are Nocturnal Emissions Normal?
As everyone knows, Fall is the best season. I've been trying to capture some of it's awesomeness in photographs.
I really like this one. Not because it captures the essence of Fall. It doesn't do that. No, I like this one because it looks like it could be the cover of an early 1970s book about puberty. I'm sure some school district somewhere was distributing such a book with cheesy back-lit leaves throughout most of that decade.
Aug 16, 2010
Photography Gig
I landed my first paying photography assignment a few weeks ago. Yes, the client was my sister. And yes, she got a steep family discount. But, hey, a paid gig is a paid gig. The subject was my three year old nephew and my sister was pretty happy with the results. I was happy with the results, too, and have raised my expectations for mastering this whole photography thing.
(Click any of the images to see more of the gallery.)
Jameson got to come along as my assistant. He did great and he was a bargain as I only had to pay him with a chocolate milkshake. I also got to snap a few photos of him while we were out.
(Click any of the images to see more of the gallery.)
 |
| A little tired by the end of the shoot... |
Jameson got to come along as my assistant. He did great and he was a bargain as I only had to pay him with a chocolate milkshake. I also got to snap a few photos of him while we were out.
Aug 3, 2010
The King
Cox Arboretum is a Dayton treasure. It's one of the best city parks I've ever visited. And it's especially great if you're into geeky things like taking pictures of butterflies. Which I happen to be.
May 17, 2010
Birds Eye View
I took the kids to the park so we could fly a new kite I just bought. Eventually I decided to see if I could get my iPhone airborne on the kite and snap some photos. The phone was whipping wildly in the wind, so most of the images were really warped. These are some of the results.
Dec 28, 2009
Let It Snow
Still waiting for some real snow here in Dayton...
Incredible depth with Lego mini-figs. True creativity can be so inspiring. Click the image to see how he did it.
Originally uploaded by Avanaut
Incredible depth with Lego mini-figs. True creativity can be so inspiring. Click the image to see how he did it.
Dec 18, 2009
National Register
If you like pictures of old stuff (and who doesn't), then you've got to check out the Flickr page for the National Register. They've got over 4,000 historic photos to peruse and they add new pictures almost daily. Happy browsing.
Nov 9, 2009
Round #2
Well, not surprisingly, the twins made it to the second round in the Halloween photo contest over at the Multiples & More website. The email voting is over and now they've got a fancy schmancy poll set up on the right side of the page. The twins are entry number 34 and you have until Thursday to vote for them.
The good news is we made the cut. The bad news is those Donovan Quads are still in it, too. I should have expected it. This wouldn't be the first time the Donovans have made out like bandits in a Multiples & More contest. One might think that maybe they have some illicit insider connections. I'm not saying... I'm just saying. I wonder if the contest committee is aware that Nater, Miss Mimi, Evan and Nolan already have a juvenile record for grand larceny? Is this the moral character we want representing multiples the world over?
So go vote for Truman and Amelia (#34). They only steal from each other. They volunteer at the local animal shelter. As part of their commitment to going green they share bath water and only wash every other day. They only throw blunt objects at people's skulls when they're really, really mad. Or tired. Or hungry. They are model multiples in every way. (And the poop smearing that may or may not happen is a non-factor as it is clearly a medical condition.)
Click here to vote for #34 in the poll. You are limited to one vote per computer so make sure you visit your local library and vote from every computer in the building.
Nov 8, 2009
Last Chance
Last chance for first round voting.
To vote, send an email to multiplesphotocontest@gmail.com and tell them you think ENTRY #53 has the cutest damned crib-pooping multiples you've ever seen. ONE VOTE per email address. Votes will be accepted until 8 pm EST, Sunday, November 8th. The top 40 will be announced on Monday.
To vote, send an email to multiplesphotocontest@gmail.com and tell them you think ENTRY #53 has the cutest damned crib-pooping multiples you've ever seen. ONE VOTE per email address. Votes will be accepted until 8 pm EST, Sunday, November 8th. The top 40 will be announced on Monday.
Nov 6, 2009
I'm Sick of Shit
I'm sick of shit. Cleaning it, that is. I won't go into the details, but Truman and Amelia have removed their poopy diapers while in their cribs on no less than six different occasions in the last week. I'm tired of it. I have no idea what compels them. Jameson did not prepare me for this aspect of parenthood. It's ridiculous.
So I'm doing what any good father would do. I'm prostituting the twins. I've entered them in the Mulitples and More photo contest with the hopes of winning some baby swag. The prizes are mostly things for which I have no use, but I'll be damned if these crib-pooping twins don't owe me something. They need to prove their worth. They have no idea how close to sleeping in the bathtub their feces smearing ways have gotten them. This is their chance to redeem themselves.
Now this is where you come in. You need to vote for them. It won't be easy -- the competition is stiff. Even those smug little Donovan Quads are entered. I bet they think they've got this contest wrapped up with their oh so cute Goldilocks and the Three Bears ensemble. Hmmph. We'll see about that Nater, Miss Mimi, Evan and Nolan! I hope you brought your "A" game!
So get out there and vote. I want free stuff. And I want to be able to tell people that their kids are ugly compared to mine. I deserve it at least as much as Truman and Amelia deserve pajamas made out of trash bags and duct tape.
To vote, send an email to multiplesphotocontest@gmail.com and tell them you think ENTRY #53 has the cutest damned crib-pooping multiples you've ever seen. ONE VOTE per email address. Votes will be accepted until 8 pm EST, Sunday, November 8th. The top 40 will be announced on Monday.
So I'm doing what any good father would do. I'm prostituting the twins. I've entered them in the Mulitples and More photo contest with the hopes of winning some baby swag. The prizes are mostly things for which I have no use, but I'll be damned if these crib-pooping twins don't owe me something. They need to prove their worth. They have no idea how close to sleeping in the bathtub their feces smearing ways have gotten them. This is their chance to redeem themselves.
Now this is where you come in. You need to vote for them. It won't be easy -- the competition is stiff. Even those smug little Donovan Quads are entered. I bet they think they've got this contest wrapped up with their oh so cute Goldilocks and the Three Bears ensemble. Hmmph. We'll see about that Nater, Miss Mimi, Evan and Nolan! I hope you brought your "A" game!
So get out there and vote. I want free stuff. And I want to be able to tell people that their kids are ugly compared to mine. I deserve it at least as much as Truman and Amelia deserve pajamas made out of trash bags and duct tape.
To vote, send an email to multiplesphotocontest@gmail.com and tell them you think ENTRY #53 has the cutest damned crib-pooping multiples you've ever seen. ONE VOTE per email address. Votes will be accepted until 8 pm EST, Sunday, November 8th. The top 40 will be announced on Monday.
Nov 2, 2009
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