Windows of Photography: October 2011

Friday, October 21, 2011

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

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

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.

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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: 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

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

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).

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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: 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