Happy New Year!!! (2012)



If 2011 has been a little rough for you as it has been for many this year, remember that New Year's Eve represents an ending, while at the same time it also represents a new beginning. As the clock strikes twelve you can set new goals, fix wrongs or just make your life a little more meaningful by helping someone else who needs it. And, even if you have had a great 2011, may you have an even better New Year in 2012.

I edited the above photograph using Adobe Photoshop CS5 Bridge. I moderately increased the Color Temperature, Contrast and the Blacks of the image. Then I moderately decreased the Clarity and Color Saturation to give the image a slightly dreamy look. When using a digital photo editor remember to have fun. Try different configurations to learn what works and how to use them. Also, remember to always save your edited image with a different file name so you can preserve the original photograph for future editing. I can promise you one thing; you will be pleased and amazed at what you can produce in a digital photo editor.

New Year's Eve is observed on December 31, the final day of any given year in the Gregorian calendar. New Year's Eve is ofter celebrated at social gatherings, during which participants dance, eat, consume alcoholic beverages and watch or light fireworks to mark the incoming year. (Information source: Wikipedia)

For more information about New Year's Eve see the Wikipedia link below:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Year's_Eve

Visit my web-site: “Windows of Photography” to see more of my photographic art.

Technical Data: Nikon D3 with a Nikon NIKKOR AF-S VR Macro 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED lens, Subject Distance: 2.0 meters, Exposure: 1/60s at f/5.6, Focal Length: 105mm, Filter: Ultra Violet, Lighting: Nikon SpeedLight SB-800 (slave unit) with an Amber Diffuser Flash Cover and a Nikon Wireless SpeedLight commander SU-800 (master unit), Post Processing: Adobe Photoshop CS5 Bridge, Date: 12/30/2011 at 11:12 am

Merry Christmas Frosty (2011)

Merry Christmas Frosty! I had a desire to add to my 2011 Christmas images. I used my Nikon D3 and Nikon NIKKOR AF-S VR Macro 105mm f/2.8 lens. If you dial this lens in correctly it will produce outstanding images with a great depth of field. That being said, the original image seemed a tad-bit flat to me. So I used Adobe's Photoshop CS5 Bridge to quickly sharpen the edges and to strengthen the color saturation.

"Frosty the Snowman" is a popular song written by Walter "Jack" Rollins and Steve Nelson, and first recorded by Gene Autry and the Cass Country Boys in 1950. (Information Source: Wikipedia) My favorite version was sung by Burl Ives.

For more information on the origins of Frosty the Snowman see the link below:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frosty_the_Snowman

Visit my web-site: “Windows of Photography” to see more of my photographic art.

Technical Data: Nikon D3 with a Nikon NIKKOR AF-S VR Macro 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED lens, Subject Disteance: 1.0 meters, Exposure: 0.4s at f5.6, Focal Length: 105mm, Filter: Ultra Violet, Post Processing: Adobe Photoshop CS5 Bridge, Date: 12/21/2011 at 12:14 pm

Assassin Bug

The above photograph of an Assassin Bug was taken Thanksgiving day in Lake Charles, Louisiana using a Nikon D3 with a Nikon NIKKOR AF-S VR Macro 105mm f/2.8 lens. The above Assassin Bug may not look like a predator but it is. Fully-grown Assassin Bugs can range from 4 to 40 millimeters. The above Assassin Bug looked to have been about 25 millimeters (1.0 inches). Assassin Bugs have a long rostrum (feeding tube) which they use to inject lethal saliva to liquefy the insides of their prey for feeding. Assassin Bugs colors can range from brown, black, red and orange.

For more information about the Assassin Bug see the link below:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assassin_Bug

I had recently purchased a Nikon NIKKOR AF-S VR Macro 105mm f/2.8 lens.  Simply put, I love this lens! But, evan though this is a great lens it is not a forgiving lens. The focal point can be very small and tight (macro) and you must use a tri-pod (maybe a mono-pod could work). I have also read that this NIKKOR lens is a very good portrait lens.

For more information about Nikon's Macro 105mm lens see the link below:

http://www.nikonusa.com/Nikon-Products/Product/Camera-Lenses/2160/AF-S-VR-Micro-NIKKOR-105mm-f%252F2.8G-IF-ED.html

Visit my web-site: “Windows of Photography” to see more of my photographic art.

Technical Data: Nikon D3 with a Nikon NIKKOR AF-S VR Macro 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED lens, Subject Distance: 0.4 meters. Exposure: 1/500s at f/5.6, Focal Length: 105mm, Filter: Ultra Violat, Post Processing: Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 3, Date: 11/24/2011 at 12:44 pm

 

African White Rhinoceros

I took the above photograph of this White Rhinoceros in the late morning heat of August 2009 at the Audubon Nature Institute in New Orleans. By noon most of the animals are looking for a shady place to settle down like the above rhino. The only thing that I did to the above photograph was to crop the image in closer to the subject to bring out the details and to add interest. Sometimes you can improve a photograph by cropping the image which can eliminate distractions and focus on your desired intentions.

The word rhinoceros is derived through Latin from the Ancient Greek which is composed of (rhino - "nose") and (keras - "horn"). The plural in English is rhinoceros or rhinoceroses. The White Rhinoceros are actually gray. The name White Rhinoceros was actually a mistake, or rather a corruption of the word ("wide" in Afrikaans), referring to their square lips. (Informational Source: Wikipedia).

See Wikipedia for more information regarding Rhinos.

 

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To view my Photographic Art visit: Windows of Photography

Metadata: Nikon D3 with a Nikon NIKKOR AF-S 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G lens, Subject Distance: 17.8 meters, Exposure: 1/320s at f/4.8, Focal Length: 140mm, Filter: Circular Polarizer, Post Processing: ACDSee Photo Editor 2008, Date: 08/05/2009 at 11:49 am

 

Copyright © 2011 Windows of Photography, All Rights Reserved

A Nice Nymphaeaceae (Water Lily)

The above photography is another example of what a Circular Polarizer filter can do for your images. The image of the above Water Lily (Nymphaeaceae) was taken at 11:00 am on a clear sunny day in Waikoloa, Hawaii. The sun's glare coming of the water was very strong and would have created light flairs in the image if I had not been using a Circular Polarizer filter. Besides making the sky in your images an appealing deep blue a Circular Polarizer filter can also reduce are eliminate glare and unwanted reflections in your images. In this case I slowly turned my Circular Polarizer filter until the glare dissipated in my view finder and then I framed the Water Lily for the shot. You should always have a Circular Ploarizer filter in your bag for each of your lens.

For more information about Water Lilies see the Wikipedia link below:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nymphaeaceae

Visit my web-site: “Windows of Photography” to see more of my photographic art.

Technical Data: Nikon D3 with a Nikon NIKKOR AF-S 24-120mm f/3.5-5.6G lens, Subject Distance: 1.19 meters, Exposure: 1/200s at f/8.0, Focal Length: 120mm, Filter: Circular Polarizer, Post Processing: ACDSee Photo Editor 2008, Date: 07/28.2010 at 11:00 am

 

Bicycles Built for Two

The above photographs illustrate just one example of what you can do in Adobe's Photoshop. The top photograph is the original image I took when walking through the French Quarter in New Orleans with my wife and daughter. On the top photograph I had only done the usual fine tuning adjustments using Photoshop CS5.

With the bottom photograph I got a bit more creative. First I isolated the red tones by using the >Select >Color Range pull-down tab menu at the top of Photoshop's editor. I used the Eyedropper Tool in the Color Range to select just the red tones in the bicycle. I adjusted the Range slide tool until only the red tones were visible and everything else was black. The Color Range tool also picked-up some of the red in the bricks. Then I uses the >Image >Adjustments >Invert pull-down tab menu at the top of Photoshop's editor to reverse the images selected red tones. With Invert selected everything outside of the selected red tones will be affected by Photoshop's editing options. Under the >Image >Adjustments >Black & White adjustments pull-down tab I was able to create a black and white photograph while not affecting the red tones in the image. I then painstakingly painted in all of the other colors back onto the bicycle only using the Eyedropper Tool and the Color Replacement Tool on the left side photo edit bar. When using the Color Replacement Tool the Zoom Tool comes in very handy for the details.
 

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To view my Photographic Art visit: Windows of Photography

Technical Data: Nikon D3 with a Nikon NIKKOR AF-S 24-120mm f/3.5-5.6G lens, Subject Distance: Infinity, Exposure: 1/30s at f/5.6, Focal Length: 120mm, ISO: 200, Filter: Circular Polarizer, Post Processing: Adobe Photoshop CS5, Date: 08/04/2009 at 8:20 am

Copyright © 2011 Windows of Photography, All Rights Reserved

Silverback Gorilla

Are you looking at me? ARE YOU LOOKING AT ME!  This male Siverback Gorilla has attitude. After getting this one set of HDR (High Dynamic Range) images Mr. Attitude set down and turn his back to everyone and would not turn around for another photographic opportunity. It was as if he stopped to pose for this one photograph and then said that there was going to be no more of that nonsense this morning.

When I am photographing animal species at a zoo are nature institute I find that I get my best results early in the morning. So, I make it a point to arrive just before the zoo or nature institute opens to the public. In most cases the animals have just been fed and released into their public viewing habitats. Also the animals are more active because it tends to be cooler in the early morning hours during the spring and summer months. Once the temperatures start to raise the animals look for a shady spot and then they tend to settle down for the rest of the day.

In my opinion the Audubon Nature Institute in New Orleans, Louisiana is one of the best places in the  country to photograph animals in a more natural setting. The exhibits are well designed for viewers and photgraphers alike without obstructions. The Audubon Nature Institute relies on man-made rack walls and water barriers for many of their exhibts.

To learn more see the Audubon Nature Institute's web-site.

 

See my Facebook page for additional Photography and Photographic Art discussions.

 

To view my Photographic Art visit: Windows of Photography

Metadata: Nikon D3 with a Nikon NIKKOR AF-S 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G lens, Subject Distance: 11.9 meters, Exposure: 1/640s at f/5.0, Focal Length: 185mm, ISO: 200, Filter: Circular Polarizer, Post Processing: Adobe Photoshop CS5, Merged to HDR Pro: +/- 1 EV, Date: 08/05/2009 at 11:45 am

 

Copyright © 2011 Windows of Photography, All Rights Reserved

Old Brick Wall

The above photograph is one of my first HDR (High Dynamic Range) images.  In 2009 I was unaware of HDR photography when I took this image. I was just trying out some of the features of my Nikon D3 camera. Unfortunately, I only bracketed for three images at +/- 1 EV.  When creating a HDR photograph you should use +/- 2 EV at a minimal. On the Nikon D3 that means you need to bracket at least 5 images to get +/- 2 EV. You should also lockup the mirror, close the view finder, use a tripod and a wired or wireless shutter release trigger. You can also use your camera’s timer instead of a remote shutter release trigger. All of that being said, I still like the way this brick-wall came out in the end. This brick-wall in the French Quarter of New Orleans could be over two-hundred years old. Photography may not have existed when this wall was constructed. Like this brick-wall, HDR photography takes planning to setup the shot for results that last over time.

See Wikipedia for or more information on HDR Imaging.

See my Facebook page for additional Photography and Photographic Art discussions.

 

To view my Photographic Art visit: Windows of Photography

Technical Data: Nikon D3 with a Nikon NIKKOR AF-S 24-120mm f/3.5-5.6G lens, Subject Distance: 0.9 meters, Exposure: 1/320s at f/3.5, Focal Length: 24mm, ISO: 200 Filter: UV, Post Processing: Adobe Photoshop CS5, Merged to HDR Pro: +/- 1 EV, Date: 08/04/2009 at 8:29 am

 

Copyright © 2011 Windows of Photography, All Rights Reserved

Which way to the restrooms?

Sometimes you just need to have a little sense of humor. I took this photograph in the Vieux Carre (French Quarter), New Orleans. The Vieux Carre is the oldest neighborhood in the city of New Orleans and has an extensive cultural and historic background. You can live in New Orleans all your life and you’ll never run out of subjects to photograph.

Visit Wikipedia for more information on the Vieux Carre (French Quarter).

See my Facebook page for additional Photography and Photographic Art discussions.

 

To view my Photographic Art visit: Windows of Photography

Technical Data: Nikon D3 with a Nikon NIKKOR AF-S 24-120mm f/3.5-5.6G lens, Subject Distance: 1.0 meters, Exposure: 1/60s at f/4.2, Focal Length: 40mm, ISO: 200, Filter: None, Post Processing: ACDSee Photo Editor 2008, Date: 08/04/2009 at 8:11 am

 

Copyright © 2011 Windows of Photography, All Rights Reserved

Heaven Up Above

The above photograph shows the effects that a good Circular Polarizer filter can produce on sky and clouds. Notice the rich blue of the sky and the nice contrast of the clouds. The way to use a Circular Polarizer filter effectively is to turn the filter slowly until the sky appears as dark as possible through the viewfinder. The darker the sky appears through the viewfinder, the bluer the sky will be in post processing. Circular Polarizer filters can also be useful in reducing reflections on photographic subjects as well.

For a detailed description about The Science of Polarizing Filters visit the Camera Technica web-site.

As a personal note, the clock was one hour behind the actual time that I took this photograph.  I hate to change my clocks also because of daylight savings time.

See my Facebook page for additional Photography and Photographic Art discussions.

Visit my web-site: “Windows of Photography” to see more of my photographic art.

Technical Data: Nikon D3 with a Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-120mm f/3.5-5.6G lens, Exposer: 1/2000s at f/3.5, ISO: 200, Focal Length: 24m, Exposure Mode: Aperture Priority, Exposure Bias: 1.00 EV, Metering Mode: Pattern, Filter: Circular Polarizer, Subject Distance: Unknown, Lighting: Natural Daylight, Date: 08/03/2009 at 12:11pm, Post Processing: ACDSee Photo Editor 2008

 

Copyright © 2011 Windows of Photography, All Rights Reserved

Wildlife Wonders

 

A zoo is a great place for many photographers to capture images of wildlife that otherwise would be unavailable are inaccessible in the wild. In this case I photographed the above giraffe at the Audubon Nature Institute in New Orleans, Louisiana. That being said, I highly recommend photographing wildlife in their native element when the opportunity presents itself. But, I haven't noticed many giraffes in the wilderness of the United States lately. Realistically though, what may be considered exotic wildlife is diminishing along with their habitats. This is unfortunate and may be unpreventable because of human population growth along with growing resource demands. Like with many things in life there are no easy solutions. An upside is that many zoos today, through their breeding and exchange programs are attempting to preserver species that would otherwise become extinct sooner. Even with the noble efforts of places like the Audubon Nature Institute I am afraid that some animal species will be lost to us in my lifetime. As I have said many times before; I am on a journey to capture and create images that reflects life. I look to photograph moments, to stop time if only for a fraction of a second. This is why wildlife photography is important to me. To capture and preserve those moments that may not exist in the future. Be it in the wild or a zoo.

 

Visit the Audubon Nature Institute web-site to learn more about their conservation program.

 

See my Facebook page for additional Photography and Photographic Art discussions.

 

To view my Photographic Art visit: Windows of Photography

 

Metadata: Nikon D3 with a Nikon NIKKOR AF-S VR 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G lens, Exposer: 1/160s at f/5.6, IOS: 200, Focal Length: 300mm, Exposure Mode: Aperture Priority, Exposure Bias: 0.00 EV, Metering Mode: Pattern, Filter: Ultra Violet, Subject Distance: 9.44 meters, Lighting: Natural Daylight, Date: 08/05/2009 at 12:05 pm, Post Processing: ACDSee Photo Editor 2008

 

Copyright © 2011 Windows of Photography, All Rights Reserved

Time Changes Everything

Time changes everything, as the above photograph illustrates. This car could be a hundred years old now. When I look at this image I think of how long ago it was when automobiles were built with wooden spokes. My great grandfather may have driven an automobile like this one. Wow, it can mess with your head. If left alone, this car will continue to slowly rust and degrade until it will no-longer be recognizable.

 

Because time changes everything is one of the reasons I love photography. I can stop time for a fraction of a second and capture the moment. I cannot say that my photographic art will stand the test of time. But, I can hope. And, maybe future generations will look at my images and wonder.

 

As a Side note, if anyone knows who the manufacture of the above automobile was, please e-mail me the information so that I can update my data on this image.

 

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To view my Photographic Art visit: Windows of Photography

Technical Data: Nikon D3 with a Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G lens, Exposure: 1/125s at f/5.3, ISO: 200, Exposure Mode: Aperture Priority, Exposure Bias: -1.00 EV, Metering Mode: Pattern, Filter: Circular Polarizer, Subject Distance: 11.9 meters, Lighting: Natural Daylight, Date: 08/05/2009 at 12:08 pm, Post Processing: Adobe Photoshop CS5

 

Copyright © 2011 Windows of Photography, All Rights Reserved

American White Pelican

I photographed this American White Pelican at the Audubon Nature Institute in New Orleans, Louisiana in 2009. It was August and very hot and humid. The best time to photograph the wildlife is early in the morning. It's not as hot in the early morning hours and the animals are more active. Most of the exhibits at the Audubon Nature Institute offer outstanding photographic opportunities in natural settings.

The American White Pelican is native to North America. They nest in large colonies of hundres of pairs. The average life span of the American White Pelican is 16 years. Unlike the Brown Pelican the American White Pelican is protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918.

To learn more visit the Audubon Nature Institute's web-site.

Also, visit Wikipedia for additional information about the American White Pelican.

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To view my Photographic Art visit: Windows of Photography

Metadata: Nikon D3 with a Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G lens, Exposer: 1/160s at f/5.6, ISO: 200, Focal Length: 300mm, Exposure Mode: Exposure Bias: 0.00 EV, Aperture Priority, Metering Mode: Pattern, Filter: Circular Polarizer, Subject Distance: 11.9 meters, Lighting: Natural Daylight, Date: 08/05/2012 at 11:57 am, Post Processing: ACDSee Photo Editor 2008

 

Copyright © 2011 Windows of Photography, All Rights Reserved