Windows of Photography: 2013

Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Nature's Beauty
(Flowering Garlic Chive)

I photographed these flowering Garlic Chive flowers in Youngsville, Louisiana. The botanical name is “Allium Tuberosum” (commonly referred to as Garlic Chives, Chinese Chives, Oriental Garlic and Chinese Leek). Allium Tuberosum has strap-shaped leaves unlike either onion or garlic, and straight thin white-flowering stalks that are much taller than the leaves. Both the leaves and the stalks of the flowers can be used as a flavoring. This plant also taste more like garlic than chives.

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Metadata: Nikon D3 with a Nikon AF-S VR Micro NIKKOR 105mm f/2.8G lens, Exposer: 1/250s at f/7.1, IOS: 400, Focal Length: 105mm, Exposure Mode: Manual, Exposure Bias: 0.00 EV, Metering Mode: Spot, Filter: Ultra Violet, Subject Distance: Unknown, Lighting: Off Camera Speedlight (Nikon SB-800), Date: 08/16/2012 at 4:42 pm, Post Processing: Adobe Photoshop CS6 and Nik Software, Color Efex Pro 4

Thursday, February 14, 2013

Wildlife Encounters

During a tour of the Honey Island Swamp in Slidell, Louisiana I photographed this 5-6 ft. alligator in the wild. Many wildlife tours can be a safe and comfortable way to encounter your subjects. Getting a good photograph in the wild is a huge thrill. For me it is like hunting but, the game and I live to encounter each other another day.

Even though I do not hunt with a gun, I do encourage responsible land conservation and wildlife management. And, as much as some may not like hunting, responsible culling is necessary to prevent specie overpopulations.

To learn more about this swamp tour see the Cajun Encounters Tour Company web-site.

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Metadata: Nikon D3 with a Nikon AF-S VR NIKKOR 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G lens, Exposer: 1/100s at f/8.0, IOS: 640, Focal Length: 300mm, Exposure Mode: Manual, Exposure Bias: 0.00 EV, Metering Mode: Matrix, Filter: Ultra Violet, Subject Distance: 6.31 Meters, Lighting: Natural Daylight, Date: 06/30/2012 at 8:14 am, Post Processing: Adobe Photoshop CS5 and Nik Software – Color Efex Pro 4

Thursday, February 7, 2013

Shades of Gray
(Mississippi River)

I created this image with the idea of featuring the important elements of the Mississippi River, the Crescent City Connection (Greater New Orleans Bridge) and the mid-morning sky. I first processed this image as a color image and I felt nothing. But, when I processed it in Nik Software’s Silver Efex Pro 2 as a black and white image it elevated my interest to an acceptable level. When an image is not working for you in post-processing you should consider using another approach.

You can learn more about the Crescent City Connection at Wikipedia.

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Metadata: Nikon D3 with a Nikon NIKKOR AF-S 24-120mm f/2.8G lens, Exposer: 1/800s at f/6.3, IOS: 400, Focal Length: 55mm, Exposure Mode: Aperture Priority, Exposure Bias: 0.00 EV, Metering Mode: Matrix, Filter: Ultra Violet, Subject Distance: Infinity, Lighting: Natural Daylight, Date: 01/17/2012 at 9:51 am, Post Processing: Adobe Photoshop CS5 & Nik Software - Silver Efex Pro 2

Friday, February 1, 2013

It's A Small World

It has been awhile since I posted a Tilt-Shift image. I took the above photograph during the 2012 PPA conference in New Orleans. In the days of film Tilt-Shift photography was done using a Perspective Control lens. Perspective Control lens are somewhat expensive and there use is limited. Today you can create Tilt-Shift images using software like Adobe Photoshop. The above Tilt-Shift image was done in post-processing using Adobe’s Photoshop CS5. Adobe added a specific Tilt-Shift function to Photoshop CS6. In Photoshop CS6 the Tilt-Shift function is located in the top left pull-down menu (Filter>Blur>Tilt-Shift). In conclusion; Tilt-Shift photography can be interesting and a lot of fun.

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Metadata: Nikon D3 with a Nikon NIKKOR AF-S 24-120mm f/3.5-5.6G lens, Exposer: 1/20s at f/6.3, IOS: 200, Focal Length: 58mm, Exposure Mode: Aperture Priority, Exposure Bias: 0.00 EV, Metering Mode: Matrix, Filter: Ultra Violet, Subject Distance: Infinity, Lighting: Natural Daylight, Date: 01/17/2012 at 8:01 am, Post Processing: Adobe Photoshop CS5 and Nik Software Color Efex Pro 4

Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Nature's Beauty (Periwinkle)

The Periwinkle (aka: Vinca - Latin: vincire “to bind, fetter”) is native to Europe, northwest Africa and Southwest Asia. Avid gardeners in Asia, Europe, India and the United States have been cultivating Periwinkles for centuries. Periwinkles had also been grown in the past by herbalists in the belief of their medicinal properties. Periwinkles grow best in warm climates.

See the following Wikipedia link to learn more about the Periwinkle (Vinca).

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Metadata: Nikon D3 with a Nikon AF-S VR Micro NIKKOR 105mm f/2.8G lens, Exposer: 1/125s at f/4.5, IOS: 200, Focal Length: 105mm, Exposure Mode: Manual, Exposure Bias: 0.00 EV, Metering Mode: Matrix, Filter: Ultra Violet, Subject Distance: 0.8 Meters, Lighting: Off Camera Speedlight (Nikon SB-800), Date: 06/27/2012 at 7:10 pm, Post Processing: Adobe Photoshop CS5 and Nik Software, Color Efex Pro 4

Friday, January 11, 2013

Wedding Photography with a Vision

Wedding photography today can be non-conventional and even a little edgy. Many clients want to stand-out from the rest. For me, today’s wedding photography is much more artistic and creative and I love the idea of creating something different, even breaking the mold from time to time. Too many photographers believe that clients will tend to select a wedding photographer base on price. But, I know that most clients are looking for a vision and guidance. If you can sell your vision, they will tend to find the budget. Your portfolios must show your best work and, more importantly you must be able to deliver on the vision your portfolios display consistently. That being said, if you wish to be a successful wedding photographer you must learn how to listen and work with your clients while still staying true to your photographic style. For me there is nothing better than making newly wedded couples happy while being artistically creative and getting paid for it at the same time.

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Metadata: Nikon D3 with a Nikon NIKKOR AF-S 24-120mm f/3.5-5.6G lens, Exposer: 1/250s at f/8.0, IOS: 640, Focal Length: 120mm, Exposure Mode: Aperture Priority, Exposure Bias: 0.00 EV, Metering Mode: Pattern, Filter: Ultra Violet, Subject Distance: Infinity, Lighting: Natural Daylight, Date: 02/25/2012 at 4:57 am, Post Processing: Adobe Photoshop CS6 and Nik Software Color Efex Pro 4

Tuesday, January 1, 2013

New Morning, New Year, New Beginning

I don’t have any images that would overtly celebrate the start of this New Year. But, when I was searching for an image to share on the first day of this New Year I came across the above photograph. I remember it well. It was early morning and the start of what would turned-out to be a successful day of photographing captivating images with my wife and daughter. We slowly walked the narrow streets of the French Quarter taking in the sights and sounds. We laughed, talked and enjoyed great New Orleans cuisine together as a family. Now my daughter is away at college most of the time and my wife and I seem to be busier than ever with our careers. So, that being said and New Year’s Day representing the start for new beginning. I have decided that when we are able to get together we should make to most of that time. Just as we did the morning I took the above photograph.

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Metadata: Nikon D3 with a Nikon NIKKOR AF-S 24-120mm f/3.5-5.6G lens, Exposer: 1/500s at f/5.3, IOS: 200, Focal Length: 66mm, Exposure Mode: Aperture Priority, Exposure Bias: -1.00 EV, Metering Mode: Matrix, Filter: Ultra Violet, Subject Distance: Infinity, Lighting: Natural Daylight, Date: 08/04/2009 at 7:43 am, Post Processing: Adobe Photoshop CS5 and Nik Software Color Efex Pro 4