Photography

To See In Ways Others Cannot – Crafting the Photograph

Jeff

I know we have all heard the argument that it is not the gear, but the eye that is the key to creating a beautiful photograph. Perhaps the single greatest asset in making great photographs is the ability of an individual to “connect” with his/her subject and see in ways that others are not able to see. The mind’s eye is another phrase I have often heard used to reference this talent.

I follow the Digital Photography School blog/website because I am a life-long learner and photography is a subject in which I am keenly interested. I recommend this resource to others who want to learn how to create better images.

As an example, a recent post by Darlene Hildebrandt, 26 Imaginative Images of Inanimate Objects, presents some excellent photos of inanimate objects that go well beyond just creating a record of a moment in time. Among the pictures used as examples is the one below. Does this evoke a feeling? If so, what feeling? If these were living, breathing objects, what would the one on the right be thinking or saying? That’s what makes this an excellent photograph. The viewer, at least this viewer, connects with the emotion of the picture.

The Tragedy of Pears

I know they are just pears, but the photograph is larger than pears and that’s the point. It is larger than a still life. In my mind, they are evoking a mood, creating an emotional response. See other works by this photographer, Victoria Ivanova here.

Another picture, not quite as poignant, but still clever and creative is the cup and handle seen in a different way.

Heartfelt Mug

When I first saw this, I had to smile. It made me happy. Does it make you happy? How many times have we looked at this or similar scenes and yet failed to see the detail that Tiziano Giumelli envisioned. I realize that the shadow was probably artificially created, but it isn’t a situation that would be unlikely to occur on its own. It would most likely be less obvious; more subtle, but it would still be there. I am connected to this photo in a mild, and whimsical way.

The photographer didn’t just happen upon this scene, whip out the camera and snap the shutter. I mean it could have been done that way, but it is very doubtful. The mug and saucer are off center; that appears to be deliberate. The shadow renders a near perfect heart shape; that seems to be purposeful. The shadow hides a portion of the left side of the cup and saucer with just a bit poking out from the rear which makes it mysterious; that was intended. This is a well-crafted image.

See what other pictures are offered to viewer in 26 Imaginative Images of Inanimate Objects.

Are there other pictures that you connect with? Which photos evoke a feeling in you even though they are of inanimate objects?

A New Zealand Passion for Photography

Jeff

Mike Langford and Jackie Ranken, two professional photographers from New Zealand, share the reasons why they are so passionate about photography and why they find it so rewarding.

Mike Langford + Jackie Ranken from Untitled Film Works on Vimeo.

Below is the synopsis from the Vimeo page:

A look into the world and minds of award-winning photographers – Mike Langford and Jackie Ranken.

Shot in 4K amongst the breath-taking landscapes of the South Island of New Zealand.

Mike Langford: “I believe landscape photography is about a sense of place”

Mike’s passion is travel & landscape photography and travel book publishing with over 26 books to his name. “I believe landscape photography is about a sense of place, not just about what it looks like, but more about what it feels like.”

Jackie Ranken: “The on-going pursuit in finding new ways of seeing and exploring the landscape. My expertise as a landscape photographer began in 2001 with a series of images called “Arial Abstracts’. Black and white images made while upside down in a loop from my father’s antique bi-plane.”

A Cat on the Hat While Filming a Cat Travelogue

Jeff

Japanese photographer Mitsuaki Iwago obviously has a passion for cats and one cat in particular. He has created a travelogue series featuring cats from around the world. In the clip below, he is filming in Okinawa, Japan where enjoys an up close and personal moment with a very cute kitten.



From the YouTube Video Notes:

This is the scene from
“Wildlife Photographer Mitsuaki Iwago’s World Cats Travelogue”
http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/english/tv/special/index130815.html
Island Kitten Befriends Animal Photographer
http://lovemeow.com/2014/05/island-kitten-befriends-animal-photographer/

Cell Phone Photos and Lightroom

Jeff

I wanted to follow up on a previous post about using Lightroom (LR) with JPG (JPEG) photos.

A friend was somewhat interested in learning about LR and she was wondering what effect LR would have on cell phone photographs. Quite frankly, that was a pretty good question since I had never used LR with photos taken on a cell phone.

Contemporary cell phones can produce images that are quite good and they do have some large files, but do they allow the kind of manipulation that our previous JPGs enabled?

My friend had a recent photo of her standard poodle that she wanted to improve. The original file is below. It is only 189 KB; not much data with which to work.


Poodle Picture before editing in Lightroom

The other requirement was to spend no more than five minutes working on the file. If you read my previous post (Lightroom for JPEG (JPG) Images), you understand that I am not a LR expert and perhaps just a bit more than a novice, but I thought I would give it a try.

I am not saying the result was excellent, but I was able to recover some detail and darken the background to allow the dog to become the focal point. I could have used a vignette, but I did not think it would render as well.


Poodle Picture after editing in Lightroom

While it may not be superb, I do think even a reduced size cell phone picture shows the benefits of being corrected in Lightroom. What do you think? Leave a comment below!

JBRish.com originally published this post

Photography – Light Within The Night

Jeff

Photography has always fascinated me. I originally became intrigued by the science of photography, i.e. the ability to use a device (camera) and film (coated with silver or chemical compounds) or digital image (using modern sensors) to recreate a specific scene. Doesn’t it seem magical? I can only imagine the thrill experienced by early pioneers when they discovered how to capture and reproduce that which the eye can see.

Beyond the science of photography, I admire those who can harness the beauty in the world around us. Most people can learn the technical skills necessary to take a good photograph. There are others though who have a special way of looking at the world and seeing things that seem to be invisible to most of us until they are placed before us as a photographic image.

The nighttime photographs below (from a Digital Photography School article linked below) allow us to share the photographic vision and talents of others.

 

Sydney Opera House - Black Lotus

This is a picture of the Sydney Opera House which is world renowned and recognized as an iconic symbol of Australia. I have seen dozens of pictures of the Opera House and many of them are very similar. This photograph is named “Black Lotus” and indeed presents a view that many of us have probably never seen. Mathijs van den Bosch had a vision when this scene unfolded before him and captured it for all of us to enjoy. Via

Cherub and Candle

The picture above is of an architectural element. We only have an approximation of the size and I am sure a large number of people have passed by this relief and appreciated it. I can almost sense the breath emanating from the statuesque form as Fehrum’s picture suggests that the cherubic figure is blowing the flame. Via

Edinburgh Clock Tower

I am not familiar with the Edinburgh Clock Tower which conjures up mental images of London’s Big Ben, but this building is certainly attractive and noteworthy in its own right. Marco Bocelli finds just the right amount of light to render this image concurrently mysterious and majestic. Via

See more interesting nighttime images at the Digital Photography Schools web page:

31 Mystical Night Photography Images

Can photography change a life? Can it change many lives?

Jeff
  • Are you a spiritual person?
  • Do you believe in the interconnectedness of all people around the globe?
  • Do you think that photography can develop compassion and empathy in others?
  • What role does photography play in the historic and spiritual record of mankind?

I found the video below be very inspirational. Alison Wright is a photojournalist who, as she says, has made a career of running toward places most other people are running from.

If you like photojournalism or photography of people, I think you will find these stories and images fascinating; as I did. If You are a spiritual person, I think you will find the underlying theme of some of Ms. Wright’s work captivating.

Even if you decide this isn’t for you and you don’t want to watch any of this. may I suggest that you watch at least 90 seconds of the video starting at the 7:30 mark and ending at 9:00. While I am a skeptical person by nature, these types of experiences force me to keep my mind open even if it is just slightly ajar.

Published on May 27, 2013
After confronting her own mortality in a near-fatal bus crash, photographer Alison Wright dedicates her career to capturing the human spirit through her photographs and writing.


Lightroom for JPEG (JPG) Images

Jeff

A couple of things up front…

  • I have only been using Lightroom (LR) for a few months.
  • Until ten months ago or so, the only camera I used was a Canon PowerShot A590 IS point-and-shoot with 4X optical zoom
  • I now use a Canon SX50 HS with 50X optical zoom
  • Between the age of 22-30, I was very interested in photography and experimented with it as a way of artistic expression
  • For more than thirty years after that, photography only served to capture my personal historic record.
  • I am now trying to become a better photographer and learn the “art” of photography.

Now that the preliminaries are out of the way, I want to make an important point. Once I decided to try my hand at becoming a more serious student of photography, all of my readings convinced me that I should be shooting in the RAW format. There seemed to be way more advantages than disadvantages.

Since my only camera was the A590 with only 8 Megapixels to offer, I was stuck in the JPEG (JPG) zone. I wanted to experiment with the RAW format and a slightly more advanced camera and thus I purchased the 12.1 Canon SX50 HS which has served me well for the last ten months.

Having decided to shoot more in the RAW format, I then needed the appropriate software to read, catalog and process those images. Along came the Adobe subscription plan for Lightroom (LR), Photoshop (PS) and other associated software for a subscription fee of approximately $10 USD per month. My path was clear. I began to learn LR and to work with RAW images.

But wait…what about all those JPGs I shot with my A590? Could any of those pictures be improved with LR? I know JPGs don’t have as much embedded data to call on, but surely I could make some improvements. Well, I am here to show you a few results. I will be the first to admit that the differences in post processing JPGs will not be as dramatic as with RAW images, there are some significant gains to be had.

Three years ago, I took my trusty little shooter (not the best term in this day and age) to the Ringling Brothers Barnum & Bailey Circus. Conditions were far less than ideal. The artificial lights were blaring every color when lit and often the arena was dark. Not only that, but elephants, co-stars of the show, are kind of a drab gray. I love elephants, but I have to call it as I see it.

In any event, I took my camera and did the best I could. Everyone who has followed photography knows the adage: “The best camera is the one you have with you.” and thus I was using my best camera that evening.

Below are several pictures I took that evening followed by the same picture processed in LR. Now remember what I said above. I am no expert at photography or post processing. I was, in my opinion, able to improve upon the original images using LR. You can decide for yourself. Just one note. The revised/improved images have been cropped so the picture may appear larger, but it is only because the crop has enlarged the remainder of the picture so that all photos are the same general size for posting on the website (+/-).

Are you following along?

This picture (below) is of the main entrance into the arena. Notice how dark the image is with lack of much detail in the corners.

Main Side Entrance

Notice the colors in this revised pictures and how the details pop a bit more.

Main Side Entrance

This performer riding the elephant wasn’t too bad a shot under these conditions, but that spotlight just to the right of the elephant’s foot is distracting as are those shiny lights above. There is no snap to the colors either.

Female Performer Riding Elephant

Notice how the contrast is improved. The distracting elements have been edited and the picture is much more pleasing. Now remember, nobody is claiming these are wonderful pictures. These are from my “historical record” and I am just trying to improve them using LR even with the introduction of a bit more “noise” in the scene.

Female Performer Riding Elephant

One of the problems I had in the darkened arena was shutter lag. So I often mis-timed the pictures. This picture was not framed correctly; too many distractions such as the trainer on the left and the objects in the bottom right. The overall color is dingy.

Lion on Rotating Ball

This is much improved with the crops, more appropriate color balance, etc.

Lion on Rotating Ball

Okay so you get the idea by now. No more narration just two more sets of before and after pictures. If anyone has any questions, post a comment and I will do my best to answer.

Lion and Trainer

 
Lion and Trainer

Dragon and Fire

 
Dragon and Fire

The Apple of the Film Maker’s Eye

Jeff

Apple World Gallery - iPhone 6

I make no secret about the fact that I am a long time, I mean really long time, user of Apple, Inc. products. I started with an Apple IIe and and Imagewriter and have had a number of Macintosh computers as well. I also own other Apple products besides computers so I am well committed to the Apple ecosystem; so-to-speak.

Having said that, I must also state that I have had several PCs too. I use them for a variety of tasks and my wife uses an HP as her main computer although she loves her iPhone.

I don’t get into the “computer wars” with my friends. Generally speaking, whatever one can do on a Macintosh could be done on a PC. At this time in the evolution of technology, the capabilities of operating systems is fairly equal and it is just a matter of preference.

One thing I must say about Apple is that, over the years, they have had excellent marketing. Their advertisements are usually top notch. They showcase their products and do so in some clever ways. Apple has set up a World Gallery of Movies shot on an iPhone 6.

Two examples appear below. They are very short and worth watching and if you like these two, you can visit the link at the bottom of the page to see others.



Sparrow thinks like a Hummingbird

Shot on iPhone 6 by Antoine D.
2015, Lyon, FR
Song: “The Birdwatcher” by Vulfpeck

Seagull Waves



Shot on iPhone 6 by Araby P.
2015, Hermosa Beach, CA
Song: “Coming Home” by Leon Bridges

Apple’s World Gallery iPhone 6 Films

More than a One Man Band (Orchestra)

Jeff

Here’s an interesting photography idea, this picture (below) may appear to be a complete orchestra and it probably is, however the same person is playing all of the instruments. Alexander Light, a violinist for the Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra, created this image which is highlighted on PetaPixel’s website.

Alexander Light's One Man Orchestra

It is hard to tell from this small version of the photograph, but if you head on over to the website linked below, you can see close up images and realize that, indeed, the same person is playing every instrument in this musical entourage.

He even conducts the orchestra!

Fun!


One Man Orchestra: 100 Clones in 1 Photograph

Founding Father of HDR Photography – Trey Ratcliff

Jeff

High Dynamic Range (HDR) photography often divides the photography community. A number of people dislike it and some do so passionately. Others love it and use it to its extreme and do so passionately. Then there are the moderates, like me, who use it in a realistic fashion to bring out the shadow details and to tone down the highlights.

Perhaps the greatest proponent of HDR photography and some might say the “founding father” of the technique, is Trey Ratcliff. I have been following Trey’s blog for years and I admire much of his work.

If you are interested in photography in general and HDR photography in particular, I know this TEDX talk by Trey Ratcliff will be of interest. He has a powerful, unique and often poignant story to tell. ALSO…watch the background as he uses many of his HDR photos to keep the audience’s attention.



From the YouTube Video Narrative…

“Many people may have artistic heroes. Trey, as a master of imagery is the creator of so many visuals that burn into our mind and particularly arrest our own notion of what is real. Trey meanders with us through important moments in his life, beginning with some difficulty and then realising in hindsight that sometimes you must ‘stumbl(e) into your own greatness’.”