Creative Photography

 

The above image was taken as part of another Steampunk Photographic Workshop shoot. But, after processing this image I found it to be more reminiscent of the Walt Disney Pictures film "The Rocketeer". By increasing the contrast and color saturation I was able to give this image an otherworldly look.

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Metadata: Nikon D3x with a Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G lens, Exposer: 1/125s at f/11, IOS: 100 Focal Length: 38mm, Exposure Mode: Manual, Metering Mode: Center Weight, Filter: Ultra Violet, Post Processing: Adobe Photoshop CSC and Google/Nik Software, Color Efex Pro 4

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Steampunk



The above image was taken as part of a Steampunk Shoot Workshop in late 2013.  Steampunk is a sub-genre of fantasy and science fiction.  It’s inspired by 19^th century western industrialism (steam-power), the British Victorian era and the American Wild-West.  Steampunk is also influenced by the writings of H. G. Wells and Jules Verne.

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Metadata: Nikon D3x with a Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G lens, Exposer: 1/125s at f/8.0, IOS: 400, Focal Length: 55mm, Exposure Mode: Manual, Metering Mode: Center Weight, Filter: Ultra Violet, Lighting: (2) Off Camera Paul C. Buff E640 Flash Units, Light Modifiers: Front (1) 22-in. Beauty Dish with 30° Grid, Rear: (1) 48-in. Translucent White Umbrella, Date: 10/12/2013 at 6:44 pm, Post Processing: Adobe Photoshop CSC and Google/Nik Software, Color Efex Pro 4

Location: N2 Studio
Models: Jessica McDonald and Anthony Renaissance Murray

Copyright © 2013 Windows of Photography, All Rights Reserved

 

Shades of Gray

 

I created the above photograph as part of the “Photography Skills Building of Houston – Meetup Group”. The title of the groups challenge was “Shooting Portraits and Dealing with Harsh Light”. This Meetup group is dedicated to helping photographers develop their skills and knowledge of photography.  To go beyond point, shoot and pray. The organizers of the group Michael and Scott put in the time and effort required to conduct a successful Meetup session. This Meetup group’s objective is to educate and share the skills that will take any photographer to the next level. As a photographer and especially as an Art Photographer I know the only way to move to the next level is to challenge myself, to take on new experiences and photographic projects. This Meetup group does just that. If you live in the Houston, Texas area you should consider attending one of the Photography Skills Building of Houston – Meetup sessions.

 

Meetup Group: Photography Skills Building of Houston

 

To learn more go to the Only Katy - Mary Jo Peckham Park web-site.

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Metadata: Nikon D3 with a Nikon NIKKOR AF-S 24-70mm f/2.8G ED lens, Exposer: 1/200s at f/5.0, IOS: 200, Focal Length: 70mm, Exposure Mode: Manual, Exposure Bias: 0.00 EV, Metering Mode: Spot, Filter: Ultra Violet, Subject Distance: Infinity, Lighting: Natural Daylight, Date: 11/17/2012 at 11:39 am, Post Processing: Adobe Photoshop CS6 & Nik Software - Silver Efex Pro 2

 

Copyright © 2012 Windows of Photography, All Rights Reserved

A Last Look at Spring 2012

 

The weather is cooling, the grass growth is slowing and the leaves are falling. Fall is here and winter is near. So, I thought I would take a last look at spring before years end. There could be nothing more spring then youth, sunshine and wildflowers.

 

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Metadata: Nikon D3 with a Nikon NIKKOR AF-S 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G lens, Exposer: 1/500s at f/10.0, IOS: 1000, Focal Length: 170mm, Exposure Mode: Aperture Priority, Exposure Bias: 0.00 EV, Metering Mode: Pattern, Filter: Ultra Violet, Subject Distance: 5.01 meters, Lighting: Natural Daylight, Date: 03/31/2012 at 9:30 am, Post Processing: Adobe Photoshop CS5 and Nik Software Color Efex Pro 4

 

Copyright © 2012 Windows of Photography, All Rights Reserved

 

ISO: It's Important

 

Sometimes the use of dappled sunlight is just the effect a photograph needs. Dappled sunlight can make an image feel more relaxed to the viewer. It can also give an appearance of spontaneity. Because I did not use any artificial fill-light I had to use a higher ISO*. I chose to set my ISO to 1000 to compensate for the lower light levels. Basically ISO represents a value of sensitivity to light that a camera’s digital image sensor processes into an image. The lower the ISO number the less sensitive to light and the higher the number the more sensitive to light. Please note that a higher ISO level can increase the noise (grain) in your image. Sometimes noise can be a very desirable effect. In photography, you must have a comprehensive understanding of three important and interlaced functions.  These functions are shutter speed, aperture and ISO. Today I briefly touched on ISO. If you understand and control these function, then you can control the outcome of your image. Among the most important things I can leave you with is READ YOUR MANUALS. Understand every function, button, knob and icon on your equipment and most importantly how they affect each other and your results. Photography is an art and a science. These are the steps that will begin to separate you from just taking pictures to creating photographs.

 

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Technical Data: Nikon D3 with a Nikon NIKKOR AF-S VR 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G lens, Exposer: 1/250s at f/10.0, IOS: 1000, Focal Length: 300mm, Exposure Mode: Aperture Priority, Exposure Bias: 0.00 EV, Metering Mode: Pattern, Filter: Ultra Violet, Subject Distance: Unknown, Lighting: Natural Daylight, Date: 03/31/2012 at 9:10 am, Post Processing: Adobe Photoshop CS5

 

*ISO: International Organization for Standardization

Copyright © 2012 Windows of Photography, All Rights Reserved

Beauty and the Bluebonnets

Simply put, this is a great photograph. I do not get to say that very often. But, everything came together in the above photograph and just maybe Saint Veronica the patron saint of photographers (and laundry workers?) was smiling upon me. My model was beautiful and talented (thank you Mikayla), the bluebonnet blooms were at their peak and the morning light was just right. I love it when an image comes together.

Visit the following link for more information regarding: Saint Veronica

 

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Technical Data: Nikon D3 with a Nikon NIKKOR AF-S VR Zoom 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G IF-ED lens, Subject Distance: 7.5 meters, Exposure: 1/50s at f/10.0, ISO: 1000, Focal Length: 220mm, Filter: Ultra Violet, Lighting: Natural Daylight, Post Processing: Adobe Photoshop CS5, Date: 03/31/2012 at 09:13 am

Copyright © 2012 Windows of Photography, All Rights Reserved

Shades of Gray
(Classic Beauty)

I am very pleased with the way that the above photograph turned-out. I feel that this image is somewhat reminiscent of the Hollywood Starlet photographs of the 30’s and 40’s. I processed this photograph using Nik Software’s, Silver Efex Pro 2.0. For me and I believe for many other views, the lack of color brings out the drama and emotional aspects of this particular image. I find that sometimes as an art form, color can be a distraction and not an enhancement. Somewhat ironically, humans are very much creatures of color but we are also emotional beings. Being human, we are guided by our feeling and we are looking for a connection to the art form and the meaning behind the artist intent, whether we realize it or not.
 

Everything been said, I must give a great deal of the beautiful composition to the model. I only had to work with the model for about a minute to get the shoot.
 

To see examples of Hollywood Starlet Photographs please visit the IMDb web-site.

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Technical Data: Nikon D3 with a Nikon NIKKOR AF-S 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G lens, Subject Distance: 4.47 meters, Exposure: 1/640s at f/10, ISO: 1000, Focal Length: 300mm, Filter: Ultra Violet, Lighting: Natural Daylight, Post Processing: Adobe Photoshop CS5 and Nik Software’s Silver Efex Pro 2, Date: 03/31/2012 at 8:58 am

Copyright © 2012 Windows of Photography, All Rights Reserved

Texas Wildflower Shoot

I took the above photograph in a field of wildflowers at Baylor University State Park, in Brenham, Texas at the end of March 2012. My NIKKOR 70-300mm zoom lens created a great depth of field effect in this image. The depth of field effect in photography can help to emphasize your subject while de-emphasizing your foreground and background. Even though the depth of field de-emphasized the foreground and background they contribute to the mood and artistic value of the photograph. The out of focus areas give the flowers and the tree in the background a somewhat painterly look.

For an in-depth explanation of Depth-of-Field see Wikipedia.

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Technical Data: Nikon D3 with a Nikon NIKKOR AF-S 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G lens, Subject Distance: 9.4 meters, Exposure: 1/400s at f/10.0, ISO: 1000, Focal Length: 250mm, Filter: Ultra Violet, Lighting: Natural Daylight, Post Processing: Adobe Photoshop CS5 and Nik Softwar’s Color Efex Pro 4, Date: 03/31/2012 at 9:21 am

Copyright © 2012 Windows of Photography, All Rights Reserved