Friday, February 1, 2013

LOW LIGHT WITH LONG EXPOSURE


This morning I went out into my office parking lot and took some pictures of a bulldozer that was there.  I set my ISO to 100, with a 30 second shutter speed and used the self timer so I wouldn't shake the camera when I hit the button.  I did not have a tripod but I think the pictures came out interesting, if nothing else!   I know, the process is a little all over the place, but when you only have so much equipment, you do what you have to do.   Here are the results.


Monday, January 28, 2013

PHOTOSHOPPING

I was taking pictures of my kids this weekend while they were eating.  Big mistake.  I had to photoshop out a ton of food on their faces.  Check out these before and after shots.

Before


After
Cropped, milkshake and other food particles removed

Before

After

Before

After
milkshake and other food particles removed, vases removed from background, color corrected

Before

After
Color corrected, food particles removed





Thursday, January 24, 2013

BASIC FILTERS

I played around with basic filters today.  Here are the two I used in this experiment and what they are supposed to be used for.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/56631-REG/Tiffen_52CP_52mm_Circular_Polarizing.html

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/54625-REG/Tiffen_52812_52mm_812_Warming.html

The pictures were all taken inside even though the polarizer is used for outdoor, mostly.  I just needed to get an idea.  When I get the chance, I'll do a series outside and see how it works.

ISO 1600 f/3.5 1/4 Focal Length: 50
AF Nikkor 50mm 1:1.8 D
White Balance: Auto
circular polarizer


ISO 1600 f/3.5 1/10 Focal Length: 50
AF Nikkor 50mm 1:1.8 D
White Balance: Auto
no filter


ISO 1600 f/3.5 1/8 Focal Length: 50
AF Nikkor 50mm 1:1.8 D
White Balance: Auto
812 warming filter

I wonder what the result will be if I change my white balance along with the filter.  Ahhh... an experiment for another day!


Wednesday, January 23, 2013

NIGHT OUT IN THE CITY

Whoever came up with the idea to keep the background of your subjects as simple as possible have not tried to shoot in New York City.  I had a lot going against me this weekend.  I mean, my husband wouldn't let me stand in the middle of a busy Broadway crosswalk to get a good shot and there are people EVERYWHERE!  I had to shoot fast, with not much time to prep.  Here are some of the more interesting ones.  We went to the New York Times Travel Show at the Javits Center and then just explored one of my favorite cities.  It won't take long to figure out how challenging this was!

It's flu season!  
ISO 100 f/3.5 1/100 Focal Length: 50
AF Nikkor 50mm 1:1.8 D
White Balance: Auto


Geisha at the Japan stall
ISO 200 f/3.5 1/50 Focal Length: 50
AF Nikkor 50mm 1:1.8 D
White Balance: Auto



China
ISO 200 f/3.5 1/50 Focal Length: 50
AF Nikkor 50mm 1:1.8 D
White Balance: Auto


ISO 200 f/3.5 1/25 Focal Length: 50
AF Nikkor 50mm 1:1.8 D
White Balance: Auto


ISO 200 f/3.5 1/80 Focal Length: 50
AF Nikkor 50mm 1:1.8 D
White Balance: Auto


ISO 200 f/3.5 1/80 Focal Length: 50
AF Nikkor 50mm 1:1.8 D
White Balance: Auto


ISO 200 f/3.5 1/13 Focal Length: 50
AF Nikkor 50mm 1:1.8 D
White Balance: Auto



Jacob Javits Center
ISO 100 f/3.5 1/400 Focal Length: 50
AF Nikkor 50mm 1:1.8 D
White Balance: Auto

My husband
ISO 100 f/3.5 1/15 Focal Length: 50
AF Nikkor 50mm 1:1.8 D
White Balance: Auto


 
ISO 100 f/3.5 1/640 Focal Length: 50
AF Nikkor 50mm 1:1.8 D
White Balance: Auto


ISO 100 f/3.5 1/640 Focal Length: 50
AF Nikkor 50mm 1:1.8 D
White Balance: Auto

ISO 100 f/3.5 1/400 Focal Length: 50
AF Nikkor 50mm 1:1.8 D
White Balance: Auto


ISO 800 f/3.5 1/25 Focal Length: 50
AF Nikkor 50mm 1:1.8 D
White Balance: Auto


Friday, January 18, 2013

WHITE BALANCE

I've been experimenting with White Balance the last few days.  None of these images have been modified outside of the camera.  Here are my results:

ISO 1000 f/4 1/20 Focal Length: 50
AF Nikkor 50mm 1:1.8 D
White Balance: Auto


ISO 1000 f/4 1/25 Focal Length: 50
AF Nikkor 50mm 1:1.8 D
White Balance: Cool White


ISO 1000 f/4 1/20 Focal Length: 50
AF Nikkor 50mm 1:1.8 D
White Balance: Incandescent

I also did some outdoor shooting of the bridge again.  Tell me if you are getting bored of this subject matter.  I'm trying to find new locations to shoot during my break at work but I'm having trouble.  So, here it is, the GW Bridge using different white balance settings.  Unfortunately, I can't remember the white balance settings I used for these and the camera doesn't seem to record that information.  It was either cloudy, direct sunlight or auto.  Why would the camera not keep this info?  Frustrating.  


ISO 100 f/4 1/4000 Focal Length: 50
AF Nikkor 50mm 1:1.8 D

ISO 100 f/16 1/250 Focal Length: 50
AF Nikkor 50mm 1:1.8 D

ISO 100 f/4 1/4000 Focal Length: 50
AF Nikkor 50mm 1:1.8 D

ISO 100 f/16 1/250 Focal Length: 50
AF Nikkor 50mm 1:1.8 D

ISO 100 f/16 1/250 Focal Length: 50
AF Nikkor 50mm 1:1.8 D

ISO 100 f/16 1/250 Focal Length: 50
AF Nikkor 50mm 1:1.8 D

ISO 100 f/16 1/160 Focal Length: 50
AF Nikkor 50mm 1:1.8 D



Tuesday, January 15, 2013

TO POST OR NOT TO POST...

So, I'm struggling with the idea of post processing.  I came from a film background where most of the work HAD to be done in the camera.  You could make minor changes in the dark room, but not much.  Now, I've entered the digital world where everything is modified in Photoshop.  It's not even the original picture anymore.  I've experimented with it and in some cases it's been beneficial.  In others,  it's like I took a great picture and modified it just because I could.  I don't want to get into that habit, so I've decided that I'm only go to Photoshop the images that absolutely HAVE to be modified.  Here's some shots from last night, some modified, most not.

ISO 1000 f/4 1/100 Focal Length: 50
AF Nikkor 50mm 1:1.8 D


ISO 1000 f/4 1/100 Focal Length: 50
AF Nikkor 50mm 1:1.8 D


ISO 1000 f/4 1/1000 Focal Length: 50
Modified in Post
AF Nikkor 50mm 1:1.8 D
I had to lighten this one a lot because JJ was being lit from behind.  The lighting as well as the post processing made it look grainy and kind of strange.  


ISO 1000 f/4 1/1000 Focal Length: 50
Modified in Post
AF Nikkor 50mm 1:1.8 D


ISO 1000 f/4 1/80 Focal Length: 50
Cropped
AF Nikkor 50mm 1:1.8 D


ISO 1000 f/4 1/160 Focal Length: 50
AF Nikkor 50mm 1:1.8 D


ISO 1000 f/4 1/640 Focal Length: 50
AF Nikkor 50mm 1:1.8 D


ISO 1000 f/4 1/1000 Focal Length: 50
AF Nikkor 50mm 1:1.8 D


ISO 1000 f/4 1/1000 Focal Length: 50
AF Nikkor 50mm 1:1.8 D


ISO 1000 f/4 1/1000 Focal Length: 50
AF Nikkor 50mm 1:1.8 D

ISO 1000 f/4 1/1000 Focal Length: 50
Lightened in Post
AF Nikkor 50mm 1:1.8 D




FLOWERS

John got me flowers the other day because things have been crazy lately and we have been really struggling not to kill one another.  This weekend is our night in the city, so I'm excited for some alone time with him and some amazing photo ops.  Aren't they pretty?

ISO 1000 f/4 1/13 Focal Length: 50
AF Nikkor 50mm 1:1.8 D


ISO 1000 f/4 1/13 Focal Length: 50
AF Nikkor 50mm 1:1.8 D


ISO 1000 f/4 1/20 Focal Length: 50
AF Nikkor 50mm 1:1.8 D


ISO 1000 f/4 1/10 Focal Length: 50
AF Nikkor 50mm 1:1.8 D