between Tech & Art | Blog

Super Bowl Monday Post, New Sibling Blog

2012-02-06T22:00:00.000-05:00

Create and Share Responsibly //

About a New Blog

Yesterday, I decided to put together a site where I could post and share two things I have been learning and enjoying for the last 4 to 6 months, Fashion and Spirits. I don't know where this is heading, but at this moment I just want to keep it simple, while showing good taste.

I created the blog, shot and edited the content, all from my iPhone 4S. Using Posterous as the content management system and their iPhone App, I was up and running in less than an hour. It amazes me what we can do with these phones in this kind of Super Bowl era. If you are old enough, please pay me a visit at between Fashion & Spirits. But remember, do it responsibly.

Tweet of the Day

Before: "If you want to learn about something, write a book about it". Now: "If you want to learn about something, create a blog about it".
~ @leorault

Saturday Night Photo, Jugo de Vida

2012-02-04T22:00:00.000-05:00

Drink Responsibly //
Harry P. Leu Gardens //

#betweenFashionAndSpirits

Thursday Night Post, Syncing Your Senses

2012-02-02T22:00:00.000-05:00

Serenity //
Las Vegas, NV //

About the Photo

Taking a trip to the mountains in Nevada, already coming down, we made a quick stop at a rest area. Looking around, I couldn't find a subject worth of photographing, so I ended taking this picture. Not sure what I got, it wasn't until I sat down with my MacBook and gave it some treatment that I got to a result on the fine art side of things, but still leaving a good idea of how the surrounding was. I made a picture in post.

About Syncing Your Senses

In some intense days, mostly week days with an overload of information and things to do, I tend to do something I call Syncing Your Senses. In the middle of the afternoon, I go to my car and sit inside with doors closed and windows up. (I'm pretty sure the same can be accomplished in a quite place with no distractions.) Once there, I close my eyes for at least two minutes letting all my senses to rest and sync. Two to three minutes syncing my senses and I'm ready for the rest of the afternoon. My mind is reset and my attitude recharged.

I thought it was worth sharing this. Or maybe I'm just crazy.

Saturday Technology Post, FaceTime with iPhone

2012-01-28T12:05:00.001-05:00

FaceTime

FaceTime..? Isn't this an iPhone feature that has been out since the middle of the year 2010? Yes, it was introduced with the iPhone 4. However, still is one of the great selling points of the platform and still hasn't come to our daily lives like it should, all because of one missing function. Without the need of a separate login and contacts list and the convenience to make video calls from iPhone to iPad and to Macs with a single tap, the ability to make them without the need of an internet broadband connection is what's limiting this great form of communication. We are waiting for cellphone carriers to lift this restriction. Period. My hopes are within each carrier's 4G implementation to make this happen, to allow FaceTime calls over their network. And finally let my parents, with a one tap, listen and see my daughters for instant laughs on a daily basis.

Technology should do good and liberate us. FaceTime is a clear example.

between Tech and Art

Leoraul //
Self Portrait //

It is clear that great part of my energy put on this blog is around photography, and although this will continue to be the case, I feel the need to fulfill the Technology aspect that exists in my mind. My passion inspires me to write entries about it, but with thousands of blogs out there rewriting and reposting most of the same stories, I desist from the idea. However, I have decided to go ahead this year and drop a word or two, from time to time, about my passion out of the photography realm.

If I could code myself within an OS, it would be between four layers: Religion (Family), Sports (Bulls Basketball), Technology (Apple + Micro$oft) and Art (Photography & Visuals). But we are not zeros and ones within a binary system.

About Me

Always looking for smarter ways to do things.

Tweet of the Week

You don't comprehend FaceTime until you have one with a loved one. #iPhone
@leorault

End of Weekend Photo, End of Theme Post

2012-01-22T21:00:00.000-05:00

Shooting Wide, Shooting at Tavares Downtown //
Hub of Lake County //

About Shooting Wide, 2

In the last post I wrote about shooting with intention when shooting wide. This, to know what is clearly our subject and what adds to it. And when in doubt, to leave it out. But, if we mistakenly left it in, then it's Ok to crop. However, is good to remember that this always brings the image down in resolution, which can be very important if we are looking to print big. So, we must use the crop tool intelligently.

I see the whole theme like I see a lot of things in real life. We should always be clear on what is the subject and eliminate the noise. I personally hate pictures and places cluttered with unnecessary stuff. In my experience, if you keep things clean, your mind will travel with ease to a state of relaxation letting the right ideas to flourish, in whatever it might be.

But, one more thing

I'm a schemer by Joker's definition.

Another Saturday Night Photo, Another Shooting Wide Post

2012-01-21T20:00:00.000-05:00

Shooting at Church Street Station //
Orlando, FL //

About Shooting Wide

When you shoot with a very wide lens, like with the 10-20mm Sigma lens for cropped sensor bodies, you have to be carefull, because you should use it with intention. Leaving things out in a photograph can make it a five stars in an instant, so when you shoot wide, you are already looking for the opposite. What I'm trying to say is, that whatever you decide to include in the photo, must be with intention and purpose. Because after all, you want not to take pictures, but to make pictures.

Reminder

Less is more. #contradictory

Birthday Weekend Post! Shooting Wide, Shooting Hoover Dam

2012-01-20T20:00:00.000-05:00

Hoover Dam in 2009 //
Mohave County, Arizona //

About the Photo

Keeping with the theme of shooting wide. Click and enjoy.

And one more thing...

Let's keep celebrating. Amen.

Birthday Post! Shooting Wide, Shooting My Wife

2012-01-19T23:00:00.000-05:00

Hoover Dam, AZ //
October 2009 //

Reshuffling

I just became a dad for a second time and I'm in the middle of reshuffling everything to have the order I need to deliver content and be very productive in 2012. This is the reason I haven't post as I'm used to. And one more thing, today starts another year for me. Thirty-six never look this good.

Shooting Wide

Not much to say about the photo within this post. I had the 10-20mm Sigma lens mounted on my Nikon D90 when I sent my wife to go down first, so I could take a photo of everything while having her in it. Just for fun.

Reminder

The images within each post are links to see them better in a higher resolution format. For when I'm short in words, the image will add a thousand.

And last...

Let's celebrate. Salud!

Three Kings Day Weekend Photo, Hospital Room View

2012-01-09T08:19:00.001-05:00

Cold/Warm Night at Winnie Palmer //
Orlando, FL //

About the New Face

Well, it finally happened. My second princess was delivered last week. And with her, another set of photos tagged with a new Face in iPhoto and a Smart Album that syncs with my iPhone for as long I'm within the iTunes ecosystem. That's the beauty of this with some good metadata, allowing you to enjoy things without technology getting in the way and allowing you to carry those many moments captured by the art of photography.

About the Cameras

At the hospital I used two cameras. The Lumix LX5, for getting very high quality photos. And the iPhone 4S, for rapid sharing via Messages. (The iPhone 4S takes very good photos, but is still no high end point-and-shoot camera.)

About the Photo

For the Hospital Room View photo above, cityscape of Downtown Orlando at night, I used the LX5. I turned off all the room lights to avoid their reflections. I put the camera on top of the window ledge to avoid camera shaking. I set the camera into Aperture mode and dialed it down to f/4 with an ISO 80 and left the camera do the rest. Took two exposures and after I transferred them to my iPad. There, I picked the one I liked most and edited it using Snapseed from Nik Software, until I got the result I was going for. And all this, while my queen and new princess were resting and waiting for sunrise.

Last Night Tweet, En Español

Amor, regla sobre todas las cosas. Comunicación y moderación, guías para todos los actos de esta vida.

First of the Year Post, Woman on Top

2012-01-01T21:00:00.000-05:00

Woman on Top of the Hill //
Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area //

I'll be a father for a second time anytime now. A team of three woman will make my world upside-down. I hope to find the time to keep posting on weekend nights. And drop a word about photography, technology or life.

New Year's Eve Photo, Keep Walking

2011-12-31T20:00:00.000-05:00

Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area //
State of Nevada //

About 2011

This year, that ends tonight, has been the hardest of my life without a doubt. At the same time, I could say it has been the best yet. It made me a better man.

En Español

Feliz Navidad y Prospero Año Nuevo! Que sean muchas las bendiciones...

Nightly Photo, The Tree in The Landscape

2011-12-30T22:00:00.000-05:00

Near Tavares, Florida //

Nightly Photo Post, Two More Days for 2011

2011-12-29T22:00:00.000-05:00

Running Sunset //
Tavares, FL //

“Year’s end is neither an end nor a beginning, but a going on, with all the wisdom that experience can instill in us.”
~ Hal Borland

Feliz Navidad!

2011-12-25T22:00:00.000-05:00

Let there be light! //
Mount Dora, FL //

A new year is NeXT.

Christmas Eve Post, Blessed

2011-12-24T22:00:00.000-05:00

En el nombre del Padre, del Hijo y del Espiritu Santo //
New York City //

En Español

Pido a nuestro salvador lo mejor para todos. Salud!

Friday Night Post, Time

2011-12-23T22:00:00.000-05:00

Caterpillar //
Atlantic City, NJ //

Time...time...time...time...time
Won't leave me as I am
But time won't take the boy out of this man
--
City Of Blinding Lights by U2

Thursday Night Post, These are the days to hold onto

2011-12-22T22:00:00.000-05:00

Harry P. Leu Gardens //
Orlando, FL //

This is the time to remember
Cause it will not last forever.
These are the days to hold onto
Cause we won't although we'll want to.
This is the time, but time is going to change.
--
This Is the Time by Billy Joel

Sunday Night Post, between Performance and Art

2011-12-18T22:00:00.000-05:00

Porshe //
South Florida International Auto Show (2011) //

"By definition, I'm not a professional photographer."
~ Leoraúl Torres

Consider this post another reminder to check out the latest gallery published this week, Eye Candy.

Saturday Night Post, Curator

2011-12-17T22:00:00.000-05:00

Ford Mustang //
South Florida International Auto Show (2011) //

curator
noun
a keeper or custodian of a museum or other collection.

Friday Night Post, Editor

2011-12-16T22:00:00.000-05:00

Mini Cooper //
South Florida International Auto Show (2011) //

About being your own Photo Editor

The picture above didn't make the cut for the gallery I posted about yesterday, Eye Candy. Although I like it, showing the best work means exactly that. From hundred of shots, you bring a shoot down to what is essentially the story you want to tell, leaving out the pieces that weakens your strong work. And to be your own Photo Editor, you need to avoid falling in love with your work. Walk away from it for a short period of time and forget that is your child, and come back with a critical eye and opinion. Ask any experienced photographer or artist, they will confirm this cold fact.

Ironically, I love being my own Photo Editor. Like everything else, with time you get better and you develop a taste that for sure will influence your style.

Thursday Night Post, Eye Candy Gallery

2011-12-15T22:00:00.000-05:00

Audi A6 //
South Florida International Auto Show (2011) //

About the Gallery

This week, I was finally able to finish and publish a new gallery I have been working on for about a month. Pictures from the South Florida International Auto Show celebrated at the Miami Beach Convention Center in November of this year. To see the full gallery, just follow the picture above.

Sunday Night Photo, Brickell Night

2011-12-11T22:00:00.000-05:00

May 2009 //
Miami, FL //

Learning How to Use a New Camera

The following is what I do when I get a new camera...

I read the camera manual, but not all at once. I probably read 10 pages per day. This allows me to have time in the field with the camera. Failing how to use it, but familiarizing myself with its software and exterior. All this lead me to know exactly what the manual is referring to when I read about more advanced features.

I have applied part of this to other subjects as well. It is simple, if I read just 10 pages a day of any topic, after 30 days I will know a lot more than a month before.

It works.

Saturday Night Photo, Going Away

2011-12-10T22:00:00.000-05:00

Harry P. Leu Gardens //
Orlando, FL //

Memories

Imperfect pictures still have the power to remind us about the past. Memories increase in value over time. And both make us wish to relive some of the moments. As we age, still moving forward, the rear view mirror gets bigger and bigger. Today I celebrate 4 years.

I hope not to miss anything while planning the future.

(I. Do. Love. My family.)

Friday Night Post, Camouflage

2011-12-09T22:00:00.000-05:00

Bok Tower Gardens //
Lake Wales, FL //

About Me

If I tell you I love chocolate, don't believe me.

Thursday Night Photo, Strength + Beauty

2011-12-08T22:00:00.000-05:00

Maraton San Blas 2009 //
Coamo, PR //

"It is time for parents to teach young people early on that in diversity there is beauty and there is strength."
~ Maya Angelou