Masking & Compositing from Lee Varis on Vimeo.
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Compositing and Masking
Here is a good tutorial on Vimeo by Lee Varis that covers the process of selecting, masking and compositing a subject in CS5.
Saturday, July 30, 2011
Famous Toy Cameras
Toy cameras are cheap, low quality and yet functional. As a result, the photos they produce are of varying quality, and not all images are guaranteed to be perfectly exposed. Surprisingly, there are still many available these days to choose from. The ones listed here were the early models that paved the way for the success of the others.
Click on the images below to read about these famous, or infamous toy cameras:
(Reprinted in part from Photographer 2.0)
Click on the images below to read about these famous, or infamous toy cameras:
(Reprinted in part from Photographer 2.0)
Monday, July 25, 2011
Minnesota Landscape Arboretum Exhibit
The Minnesota Landscape Arboretum Photographers Society is a group of 50 members from diverse backgrounds with a shared passion for Nature Photography. “Reflections on Nature” is a collection of images spanning our region, country and world with subject matter ranging from the intimate to iconic.
Come out to the gallery to view and support the work of our member club!
Friday, July 22, 2011
Time for Something Completely Different
This video is a cute, but somewhat long, photographic variation of a falling dominoes creation. (Please ignore any embeded advertising).
Smart Idea, Dumb Idea
You've said it and heard it before, "I was out and saw this great ... but I didn't have my camera with me to take the pix", or "I never take all of my camera gear on vacation with me it's too much to carry" etc. There are any number of laments from photographers about the images they missed because they didn't have their large, bulky SLR with them to capture it.
Then there are the innumerable people who do get the image because they have an I- Phone, or small low res camera with them that are easy to carry around. The problem is the low res images these devices, particularly the I-Phone take are generally useless except for viewing on the web.
Enter the smart idea: an adopter that lets you put any of your high priced Canon or Nikon lens on your I Phone. With it you can take sharper images, and control depth of field just like you would, if you were using your DLSR.
But it really is a dumb idea. If you own larger lenses, you probably (read absolutely) own a DSLR to use them. Why buy an adopter to use the lenses on a 5 (or possibly a new 8 megapixel) I-Phone when the DLSR can take much better quality images? Also, what advantage is it to have a small camera to shoot images, if you have to carry around such large lenses and an adopter to get better quality images from it?
The reality is somewhere in between. Everyone misses images at times because their equipment is too bulky to lug around everywhere. Everyone would love to have a device that takes top quality images of today's DSLR's, but at the same time is portable for carrying everywhere (and also does all the things an I-Phone can do to make it useful enough to want to carry it around all day).
The devices previously featured in this blog hint at how manufacturers are approaching the demand for high quality/portability/functionality. The EVIL cameras are winning over a lot of photographers as a useful second camera, and their power to take excellent images is only going to get better as they get smaller. The WVIL concept of putting the image chip on the lens itself, and combining it with a small computer/phone/camera back, is a unique approach that would allow users to upgrade either component as technology progresses. This design also offers the ability to shoot images with the lens detached from the camera body.
Finally, there is a new camera concept called Light Field photography that promises to revolutionize the way images are taken and processed. Lytro claims to have developed a technology that allows the camera to capture and process light from many different angles resulting in images that can be manipulated in various ways after they are taken. Images don't have to be shot "sharp", but instead can be processed after capture to achieve a variety of different effects.
It will be interesting in the future to see how the demand for higher quality, greater portability and functionality "converge".
Then there are the innumerable people who do get the image because they have an I- Phone, or small low res camera with them that are easy to carry around. The problem is the low res images these devices, particularly the I-Phone take are generally useless except for viewing on the web.
Enter the smart idea: an adopter that lets you put any of your high priced Canon or Nikon lens on your I Phone. With it you can take sharper images, and control depth of field just like you would, if you were using your DLSR.
But it really is a dumb idea. If you own larger lenses, you probably (read absolutely) own a DSLR to use them. Why buy an adopter to use the lenses on a 5 (or possibly a new 8 megapixel) I-Phone when the DLSR can take much better quality images? Also, what advantage is it to have a small camera to shoot images, if you have to carry around such large lenses and an adopter to get better quality images from it?
The reality is somewhere in between. Everyone misses images at times because their equipment is too bulky to lug around everywhere. Everyone would love to have a device that takes top quality images of today's DSLR's, but at the same time is portable for carrying everywhere (and also does all the things an I-Phone can do to make it useful enough to want to carry it around all day).
The devices previously featured in this blog hint at how manufacturers are approaching the demand for high quality/portability/functionality. The EVIL cameras are winning over a lot of photographers as a useful second camera, and their power to take excellent images is only going to get better as they get smaller. The WVIL concept of putting the image chip on the lens itself, and combining it with a small computer/phone/camera back, is a unique approach that would allow users to upgrade either component as technology progresses. This design also offers the ability to shoot images with the lens detached from the camera body.
Finally, there is a new camera concept called Light Field photography that promises to revolutionize the way images are taken and processed. Lytro claims to have developed a technology that allows the camera to capture and process light from many different angles resulting in images that can be manipulated in various ways after they are taken. Images don't have to be shot "sharp", but instead can be processed after capture to achieve a variety of different effects.
It will be interesting in the future to see how the demand for higher quality, greater portability and functionality "converge".
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Dreams - Call for Entries
The Center for Fine Art Photography has announced an international call for entries for the theme titled "Dreams". All entries are due on or before August 6th. A description of this theme is:
Dreams are a creation of images, ideas, sensations and
emotions that occur in our conscious and subconscious mind.
They can be the manifestation of our aspirations, goals, and
fears both realistic and fantastic.
The Center is located in Fort Collins, Colorado, but has over 1300 members from all over the world. It stages regular photography competitions on a variety of themes. To learn more see the images below. To register go to: DREAMS.
Dreams are a creation of images, ideas, sensations and
emotions that occur in our conscious and subconscious mind.
They can be the manifestation of our aspirations, goals, and
fears both realistic and fantastic.
The Center is located in Fort Collins, Colorado, but has over 1300 members from all over the world. It stages regular photography competitions on a variety of themes. To learn more see the images below. To register go to: DREAMS.
Bokehs and Chimping
In any field of human endeavor participants invariably develop a certain "lingo" or "terms of art" used to describe activities specific to that field. Photography is no exception. Two that I've come across recently are Bokeh and Chimping.
In photography, Bokeh refers to a blurring of a portion of the image hopefully made in a manner that adds to the aesthetic quality of the final image. This can be achieved through the use of various lens and F stops to throw parts of the scene outside the depth of field.
It can also refer to specular reflections caused by shooting with a lens "stopped down" smaller than its maximum aperture, so that out of focus points are blurred into the polygonal shape of the aperture blades of the lens used.
Chimping in digital photography is used to describe the act of checking images on the LCD screen immediately after capture. Some photographers use this term to refer to amateur photographers who constantly check, and often show off the images on their LCD to others while shooting. However, others point out that checking images simply takes advantage of the power of the digital camera, and leads to more creative shooting.
In photography, Bokeh refers to a blurring of a portion of the image hopefully made in a manner that adds to the aesthetic quality of the final image. This can be achieved through the use of various lens and F stops to throw parts of the scene outside the depth of field.
It can also refer to specular reflections caused by shooting with a lens "stopped down" smaller than its maximum aperture, so that out of focus points are blurred into the polygonal shape of the aperture blades of the lens used.
Chimping in digital photography is used to describe the act of checking images on the LCD screen immediately after capture. Some photographers use this term to refer to amateur photographers who constantly check, and often show off the images on their LCD to others while shooting. However, others point out that checking images simply takes advantage of the power of the digital camera, and leads to more creative shooting.
Monday, July 18, 2011
Once Upon A TIME
Dallas commercial photographer Tom Hussey did a stunning and poignant series of photographs for a new Alzheimer's drug by Novartis featuring "a look back in time". The purpose of the advertising was to market a medical patch that helps patients of the disease maintain long-term memories during its early stages.
To see all 8 of the images in the series and more of his work, including his Motion photography pieces, go to: Tom Hussey.
To see all 8 of the images in the series and more of his work, including his Motion photography pieces, go to: Tom Hussey.
Sunday, July 17, 2011
To Be Published or Self-Publish?
Excelsior, Minnesota native Mary Virginia Swanson is the co-author of a book called Publish Your Photography Book. It is described as: "the first book to demystify the process of producing and publishing a book of photographs".
Ms. Swanson is giving a free lecture on July 20th on the subject of publishing a photography book at Excelsior Bay Books in her hometown. The lecture starts at 7:00 pm this Wednesday at 36 Water Street in downtown excelsior. She will talk about the many avenues to pursue and the pitfalls to avoid when deciding to publish a book, including information to help navigate the publishing world.
In addition to the lecture, Ms. Swanson will be signing copies of her insightful book. This lecture is a must for any photographer thinking of publishing.
For more information go to: Excelsior Books. For a map to the lecture go here: MAP.
Ms. Swanson is giving a free lecture on July 20th on the subject of publishing a photography book at Excelsior Bay Books in her hometown. The lecture starts at 7:00 pm this Wednesday at 36 Water Street in downtown excelsior. She will talk about the many avenues to pursue and the pitfalls to avoid when deciding to publish a book, including information to help navigate the publishing world.
In addition to the lecture, Ms. Swanson will be signing copies of her insightful book. This lecture is a must for any photographer thinking of publishing.
For more information go to: Excelsior Books. For a map to the lecture go here: MAP.
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Stunning Time Lapse of the Milky Way
Check out this amazing time lapse video of the Milky Way:
The Mountain from TSO Photography on Vimeo.
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Master Photographers
My fellow blogger Barb Smith directed me to a great website that features selected works of the masters of photography. Below are photos of Ansel Adams and Edward Weston, and a partial list of those who's images are featured.
To view all of these masters of photography go to: MASTERS.
To view all of these masters of photography go to: MASTERS.
Monday, July 11, 2011
Abandoned Russian Riviera in Photos
Once upon a time, in a subtropical climate on Georgia’s Black Sea coast, there were glorious scenic wonders like beautiful beaches, lush wooded mountains, and buildings of grandeur at a resort paradise known as the Russian Riviera. But a bloody war erupted in Gagra and countless thousands were murdered, an extermination of the Georgian people. Gagra became a war-torn paradise resort in ruins. Now this “Russian Riviera” is an abandoned ghost town.
Go to: Russian Riviera to view all 46 images of this once popular ghost town.
Go to: Russian Riviera to view all 46 images of this once popular ghost town.
St. Paul Camera Club on History Detectives
The History Detectives program on PBS has finalized a date for the story they did on Marion Carpenter and the St. Paul Camera Club. The show will be aired on PBS Tuesday, August 30, 2011. This story will be the first one run that evening.
For more information on this story refer back to this blog's entry on March 28, 2011. You can visit the History Detectives website for showtimes and more information about the program.
Also, Herb Gustafson and Gene Schwope have petitioned the U. S. Postal Service to create a Marion Carpenter commemorative stamp. They were recently notified that a Marion Carpenter stamp will be considered in 2014.
For more information on this story refer back to this blog's entry on March 28, 2011. You can visit the History Detectives website for showtimes and more information about the program.
Also, Herb Gustafson and Gene Schwope have petitioned the U. S. Postal Service to create a Marion Carpenter commemorative stamp. They were recently notified that a Marion Carpenter stamp will be considered in 2014.
Photo Gifts and Gear
I was at a seminar and someone had a coffee mug that looked like a Canon lens. I inquired about where it was purchased, and if it came in Nikon. I was directed to Photojojo an online store that sells unique, useful and weird camera gear and gifts.
The store offered a Nikon version of the coffee mug alongside such items as a Pinhole Lens, a white balance lens cap, a variety of miniature cameras and a lot of novelty items for your favorite photography enthusiast. Some of these items are useful, others just kitschy at best.
The store offered a Nikon version of the coffee mug alongside such items as a Pinhole Lens, a white balance lens cap, a variety of miniature cameras and a lot of novelty items for your favorite photography enthusiast. Some of these items are useful, others just kitschy at best.
Sunday, July 10, 2011
Crex Meadows Nature PHotography Seminar
Several twin city area photographers are scheduled as speakers at the Crex Meadows Nature Photography Seminar on August 6-7. Crex Meadows is located in Grantsburg, WI, about 1 ½ hours north of the Twin Cities.
Registration deadline is July 15, 2011. Saturday seminar is $35 per person for Friends of Crex members, or $45 for non-members. Sunday morning field trip is $10. A Men’s and a Woman’s Bunkhouse, bathrooms and showers are available: $10 per person per night. Other lodging available in Grantsburg and Siren, WI.
Program includes:
Dale Bohlke: Basic DSLR Review
Dee Kotaska: A Spirit of Place
Mike Prokosch: Looking at the Small Side of Nature
John Pennoyer: Seeing the Light
Mariann Cyr: Do You See What I See?
Dale Bohlke: Wildflower Explorations
Ron Cleveland: Have a Hoot: Point, Think & Shoot
To learn more about Crex go to: Crex Meadows. To register go to: www.crexmeadows.org/seminarbrochure2011.pdf.
Registration deadline is July 15, 2011. Saturday seminar is $35 per person for Friends of Crex members, or $45 for non-members. Sunday morning field trip is $10. A Men’s and a Woman’s Bunkhouse, bathrooms and showers are available: $10 per person per night. Other lodging available in Grantsburg and Siren, WI.
Program includes:
Dale Bohlke: Basic DSLR Review
Dee Kotaska: A Spirit of Place
Mike Prokosch: Looking at the Small Side of Nature
John Pennoyer: Seeing the Light
Mariann Cyr: Do You See What I See?
Dale Bohlke: Wildflower Explorations
Ron Cleveland: Have a Hoot: Point, Think & Shoot
To learn more about Crex go to: Crex Meadows. To register go to: www.crexmeadows.org/seminarbrochure2011.pdf.
Saturday, July 9, 2011
Russ Borud: Butterfly Delights
Interesting things are happening in the internet world. For those with DVD/BluRay players connected to the internet, there is a link to the www.youtube.com that will allow viewers to watch slideshows like Russ' on their television. I connected to Russ Borud's youtube site and my Sony BluRay played each of his slideshows one after the other. Since Russ includes some lovely music with his slideshows, it was a visual and audio delight.
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Minnesota State Fair Competition
Just a friendly reminder that the 2011 Fine Arts registration deadline is fast approaching! Registration absolutely closes at 4:30 p.m. on Monday, July 11. Also, all changes to a registered item must be completed by 4:30 p.m. on that date. Changes can be made by calling 651-288-4417, e-mailing competition@mnstatefair.org or in person at the Competition Office. Registration absolutely closes upon this deadline.
Registration is available on-line at - www.mnstatefair.org. Just click on the "Competition & Contests" button and then choose "Fine Arts" from the list that appears.
In addition to on-line registration, the website has a downloadable version of the Fine Arts Rules and Regulations and the Identification Tag, which must be attached to your item. Be sure to read the rules before you submit your registration.
Registration is available on-line at - www.mnstatefair.org. Just click on the "Competition & Contests" button and then choose "Fine Arts" from the list that appears.
In addition to on-line registration, the website has a downloadable version of the Fine Arts Rules and Regulations and the Identification Tag, which must be attached to your item. Be sure to read the rules before you submit your registration.
Fireworks Images
Peter Wong is a professional photographer and member of the Crosstown Camera Club. He has been up on assignment at the Grand View Lodge in Northern Minnesota. He captured these images of fireworks on the 4th I am sure you will enjoy.
You can see more of Peter's work at: Peter Wong Photography.
You can see more of Peter's work at: Peter Wong Photography.
Saturday, July 2, 2011
July 1st Storm Pix
A huge storm suddenly appeared last night and quickly rolled threw downtown Minneapolis. I was able to get a few shots from my backdoor before the rains came.
After the clouds and rain swept through the result was a rather dramatic sunset.
After the clouds and rain swept through the result was a rather dramatic sunset.
Friday, July 1, 2011
Exhibit at Thrivent Building in Minneapolis
There is a group of 14 photographers who belong to the Crosstown Camera Club that meet separately from that club to discuss ideas, techniques, and give critiques of each others work. In addition, the group formed to support each others work through publication and exhibitions.
Currently 5 members of the group have images hanging in an exhibit at the Thrivent Financial building in downtown Minneapolis. The building is a modern looking red glass structure located on 4th Avenue between 6th and 7th Streets across from the Hennepin County courthouse. The images are hung on movable pillars in the first floor main lobby of that building.
The exhibit contains 27 images. Some of the selected images from that exhibit are:
By Liz Ansley
By Mark Karney
By John Olson
By Cynthia Fleury
By Peter Wong
The exhibit will run through the month of July and is open during normal business hours to view. The Thrivent building is located on the Minneapolis skyway for easy access.
You can see other images from Dynolights members at: Dynolights.
Currently 5 members of the group have images hanging in an exhibit at the Thrivent Financial building in downtown Minneapolis. The building is a modern looking red glass structure located on 4th Avenue between 6th and 7th Streets across from the Hennepin County courthouse. The images are hung on movable pillars in the first floor main lobby of that building.
The exhibit contains 27 images. Some of the selected images from that exhibit are:
By Liz Ansley
By Mark Karney
By John Olson
By Cynthia Fleury
By Peter WongThe exhibit will run through the month of July and is open during normal business hours to view. The Thrivent building is located on the Minneapolis skyway for easy access.
You can see other images from Dynolights members at: Dynolights.
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