What Were They Thinking?

Posted on Sep 8, 2010 | 0 comments

What were they thinking when they shot this?

Dave Cross discovered this website and I just have to pass it on. This is a collection of actual images sent in to the stock agencies (those that sell images online to others for use in their projects) that make you wonder, “What were the photographers thinking?” You have to scratch your head, while sometimes just laughing out loud, at what use any of these photos ever could have on the open market.

Click here to view the entire collection from awkwardstockphotos.com … and enjoy a good laugh.

Bloomington Photography Club

Posted on Sep 7, 2010 | 0 comments

Hey, check out the Fall look for the Bloomington Photography Club (that is the logo pictured above). A big thanks goes out to James Keller and his website team for the great new look.

And, speaking of the club … tonight, September 7 at 7 PM, is the club’s monthly meeting. Stop by the First Presbyterian Church at the corners of 6th and Lincoln in Bloomington to enjoy some great fellowship and pick up some new information. Tonight’s agenda includes a photo share of train images. There also will be images from the club’s recent field trip to the French Lick area.

If you are free, come on by. You’ll meet some new people, see some great photos, and have a good time. I guarantee it.

French Lick Photos

Posted on Sep 6, 2010 | 0 comments

Click here to view some very nice images from the French Lick/West Baden resorts. The Bloomington Photography Club recently went on a field trip to the area, and some of the club members have posted images from the excursion. I keep telling you that the club is the best deal for information and fellowship that you will find in the Bloomington/Monroe County area. Our next meeting is tomorrow night. If you are close and have some time, come on by. Just click on the listing on my Blogroll on the right side of the page for information.

Enjoy the images and the Labor Day Holiday!

Picky, Picky …

Posted on Sep 3, 2010 | 0 comments

Click here for the second round of David Ziser’s “The One That Got Away” series (there is a link to the first of the series, also). David takes a close look at a pretty good photo … and tells us what would have made it better. He does so in a good-natured away, and he starts with some very nice images. So, what is a photographer to do? Study what he says about the small details (hand placement, fingers, etc) and add them to your mind’s database. It just may pay off in that next portrait.

Buy This!

Posted on Sep 3, 2010 | 0 comments

Buy this Datacolor LensCal lens calibrator. Better yet, since you only need to use it maybe once each year, go together with several friends and buy this lens calibrator. Now, it hasn’t hit the stores yet (shipping starts sometime in the middle of September) and I haven’t played with one. But I can safely tell you -- buy this lens calibrator.

Even our expensive professional-grade lenses can be off the mark when it comes to focus. Sometimes a teeny bit; sometime (really unfortunately) by a lot. I know, you paid a small fortune and you bought the best. Sadly, the best sometimes comes with a bit of a flaw … that is just the nature of the manufacturing process. Well now comes the lens calibrator that allows you to measure for yourself, easily, whether or not your lens is dead spot on the mark. The only caveat? Your camera has to internally have a feature that allows you to adjust the focus for lenses. Then you simply calibrate each of your lenses and put the lens calibrator away for a year or so. That’s why I am suggesting you and some friends or maybe even your entire camera club go together to buy one of these.

Now, to see how easy this calibrator is to use and what it can do for your peace of mind, watch this short video of the LensCal in action. Then pre-order one and wait anxiously for it to arrive. For only $59 you’ll be glad you did.

A One-Day Giveaway

Posted on Sep 2, 2010 | 0 comments

Click here to enter a today-only giveaway from mcp actions, the good folks who sponsor so many chances for you to win neat stuff … for free. Just go to the site and leave a comment on the upcoming holidays. That’s it … no strings attached. You may win a set of three professionally-designed templates for holiday photos. But it is today only! So, what are you waiting for?

(Calvin) Hollywood Images

Posted on Sep 1, 2010 | 0 comments

Sorry for the late (late, late) post today. I was busy until late with the photos from yesterday’s photo shoot, an attempt to create a pro athlete kind of image. We have all seen those types of shots … something with a little edge to it, am image with a lot of contrast that projects some strength or power usually. I had a great model who patiently endured my efforts to deal with the lousy lighting we had to work with on location (thanks, Blake!), and I finally got an image that I thought projected the attitude these photos have. Then it was time to make it look the way I wanted.

For this look, seen at the top of the post, I turned to noted German Photoshopper Calvin Hollywood. He turns out some beautiful images, often of fashion models, that just sing. His techniques for adding clarity and contrast without overloading the image with noise and artifacts, works. It may not work perfectly in my hands yet, but it works. I imagined it serving on the edgy image I had in mind, and it did (in my humble opinion). Today I will lay out my workflow, based on Calvin’s freely-shared techniques. Try it on your images. On the right ones you just may like it.

First, color correct your image and manage exposure, etc until you have an image you like (use any of your normal workflow). Next, duplicate your image and change the blend mode to Vivid Light. Wow! I know, looks terrible. Next invert your layer, go to Filter, Blur, and choose Surface Blur. You add contrast by moving the radius slider to the right. You get rid of and control halo edges from too much contrast with the threshold slider (the more you lower the threshold, the more you lower halos). Try starting around 44-45 for radius and 40 or so for threshold, but … you have to remain flexible and you have to experiment on the particular image you are working with. Don’t get discouraged and quit if at first you see halos; just back up and try some different settings. It is not too difficult to find the set that works together.

Now, on a PC hit Shift-Alt-Control-E at the same time (you can do it; it’s a bit like Twister). This creates a new layer without merging all the others. We do this so we can change the blend mode of this new layer to Overlay (you can discard the second layer now; you don’t need it any more). If you want more contrast (ugh, contrast good!) go to Image, Adjustments, Shadows/Highlights (on a PC). Lower the Shadows to zero. Go down to Midtone Contrast and move the slider to the right. Get the look of contrast and detail you want and click OK.

Now play with the opacity of that layer (probably lowering it to as low as 40% or so) until your image looks the way you want. This method is designed to get a certain look without all the noise and artifacts that come with a lot of contrast adjustments. Calvin is a master of this technique and this look. I am not, but I am pretty pleased with my results.

For more information about Calvin Hollywood and his style, click here. And enjoy finding your own style of edgy, high-contrast images.

New Downloads

Posted on Aug 31, 2010 | 0 comments

It’s a quick-hit Tuesday since I’m rushing around getting ready for a photo shoot. But this is a good one: click here and look on the right side of the page to download the latest versions (free upgrades) of Photoshop CS5 and Lightroom 3. Adobe just released the final versions of the beta they advertised some time ago. Beta versions usually are very close to finished products, but I always wait for the final version before downloading (I don’t know, just overly cautious, I guess). In any event, today is the day. The downloads are free, you already have the programs (oh, you gotta have these two!), and it couldn’t be easier.

Lightroom Settings

Posted on Aug 30, 2010 | 0 comments

Adobe Lightroom 3 (or 2, for that matter) is a great program that gives any photographer general and localized control over their images with a not-very-steep learning curve. Every image can be improved compared to how it comes out of the camera, no matter how accomplished a photographer you are! Even if it a slight sharpening applied to an otherwise perfect image, your photo will be improved after a judicious use of Lightroom. I find it hard to believe that there still are photographers out there who are taking advantage of this resource from Adobe (click here to go to the Lightroom website).

That said, today I have ten simple tips for you regarding Lightroom and quick adjustments to your images that will make them look better … guaranteed. These tips are courtesy of an article in the NY Times (I know, not my preferred reading, either). But, Ten Photo-Editing Tips From a Pro makes for a quick read with worthwhile information. Whether you are a pro or a beginner, click here to check out the tips and just possibly pick up one little thing that will make your images look their best.

Lightroom is the place to be … see you there.

Tech Tip Friday … On Saturday

Posted on Aug 28, 2010 | 0 comments

Bill Fortney, friend and landscape photographer extraordinaire, always has some useful tech tips on Friday. We didn’t get to them yesterday because of a busy week, but they are not to be missed. Bill has a list of favorite accessories for us, complete with images and links to sites where they can be purchased or investigated further. Thank you, Bill!

Click here to see some must-have accessories that just may make you shooting more enjoyable and more profitable. For example, how have you been doing without Zeiss Lens Cleaning pre-moistened cloths, which Bill says are great for cleaning glasses, LCD panels, eye pieces, and lenses. And they are only $2.95 a box at Walmart. Check out his site for this valuable information and all the wisdom he has to offer. Today!

HDR Wars … Continued

Posted on Aug 27, 2010 | 0 comments

You have to choose an HDR software program because High Dynamic Range images are not the future of photography … they are the today of photography. Photomatix has long reigned as the champ, but photo experts such as Thom Hogan (of byThom fame) are high on HDR Expose (a program I am using). Photoshop CS5 has its HDR Pro feature that comes free (always a good thing to hear) with the new version of Photoshop, and there are manual ways to try to get the same effect. What’s a poor photographer to do?

Well, sorry. The thing to do right now if you don’t already have a program is to wait. That’s right … wait until early October for the release of NIK Software’s HDR Efex Pro. I use NIK’s line of effect filters daily and wouldn’t want to have to do without them. They work. They are easy to use. They offer unlimited control in terms of masks and local adjustments. And they are affordable. There is no reason to believe that the company’s new HDR program will be anything less. Click here to take a look at what they have in store for us and to watch a short video on that page of how the program will work (if you never have used any of their products).

I have an HDR program and I have Photomatix installed as a (never-expiring) trial program. Nonetheless, I can’t wait for October and this new release. NIK is a great company with great products. Give them a try. And … enjoy the weekend, camera in hand.

Almost … Not Quite

Posted on Aug 26, 2010 | 0 comments

Click here for a neat new feature from a very fine photographer, David Ziser, that I have mentioned to you several times. This feature is “The One That Got Away”. Sounds fishy, doesn’t it? In reality it is a photo that looks pretty darn good … but could be better. David shows you the image and then explains what it needs to be a lot better, either in the planning stage or in the processing phase. He gets away with this because the image is one taken by a student of his in a workshop.

This is the kind of constructive criticism we all can benefit from (especially when it is not our image up there in front of the class). We get better by looking at others’ work, analyzing their product, and (now) getting feedback on how that image could be made better. Take a look at this feature and keep David’s comments in mind on your next field trip.