LENS CAPTURE

LensCapture Blog Has Moved...

noreply@blogger.com (Tom Dowling) — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 16:18:00 +0000

LensCapture has moved to its new home!

Please change any favorites or bookmarks you
have after you visit our new site at:

Hot Rod Thrills

noreply@blogger.com (Tom Dowling) — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 06:52:00 +0000

Vol. 3 No. 17

The Rumblers 11th Annual Car Show took place this past weekend in the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn, New York. As expected, there were lots of screeching tires and engines, and so much to take in. The line-up of custom and vintage vehicles seemed to grow again this year. Here's a quick video to show you what you missed.

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Garden Walk

noreply@blogger.com (Tom Dowling) — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 02:18:00 +0000

Vol. 3 No. 16

An early August Saturday morning proved to be a blossom-hound 's delight. As you'll see from my video slideshow below, the pollen transport team was in full operation.

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Worldwide Photo Walk

noreply@blogger.com (Tom Dowling) — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 16:45:00 +0000

Vol. 3 No. 15

With over 1100 walks and more than 33,000 photographers participating in last year's Worldwide Photo Walk, this year promises to be even better. I have been selected to lead the photo walk that starts at Brooklyn Bridge Park's new Pier 1. Our walk is taking place on Sunday, October 2, 2011.

Our photo walk starts out with a brief stroll along the newly opened waterfront space in Brooklyn Bridge Park’s Pier 1. Pier 1 adds 6 new acres of park including 1,300 feet of promenade along the East River, and 2.5 acres of lawn with sweeping views of the New York harbor, the Manhattan skyline, and the Brooklyn Bridge. A dramatic granite prospect made from the stone salvaged from the Roosevelt Island Bridge cascades from the two lawns to the 30’ wide waterfront promenade and serves as a tiered viewing deck will be our meeting location. From there we begin our walk north to Empire/Ferry Point Park, passing the Civil War-era Tobacco Factory, and end up just under the Manhattan Bridge on the Riverview Lawn.

To give you a sense of the area, i created a short video from photo walking the route this past weekend. Hope you enjoy it!

This walk is open to everyone with a camera (point and shoot, film or digital SLR, etc.) at any skill level. These individual walks are limited to 50 participants. If that doesn’t sound like a lot, you haven’t seen 50 photographers coming down the sidewalk at the same time, and converging at once on a photographic opportunity. It’s more like a scary bike gang (except without the bikes, or gang, or scariness).

So, don't delay in signing-up for this walk, or any of the Worldwide Photo Walks. This event is always a great social and photographic experience.

As a professional photographer and veteran photo walker, I offer the following promise: regardless of your skills, point-and-shooters to working photographers will all benefit from the experience.

Tips will be added as we begin the registering participants and will continue up to our walk day.

Please join us for a great photographic experience!

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Sunday Stroll

noreply@blogger.com (Tom Dowling) — Sun, 24 Jul 2011 23:41:00 +0000

Vol. 3 No. 14

A simple stroll in your neighborhood park could yield some great subjects. This is true only if you remember to bring your camera.

This short video is from my Sunday morning walk through Juniper Park in Middle Village, Queens. With the weather staying so hot and humid, an early morning stroll was the only option. This 55-acre public jewel was opened in 1930 and features sport fields, playgrounds and plenty of tree-lined paths.

GPS: 40.720278, -73.880278

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Lady Liberty

noreply@blogger.com (Tom Dowling) — Sun, 03 Jul 2011 18:03:00 +0000

Vol. 3 No. 13

Happy Independence Day!

The following images were captured around sunset from Louis Valentino Junior Park, in Brooklyn's Red Hook waterfront. A tripod is essential when photographing landscapes, and especially with the sun setting.

The pier that extends from the park is beautifully designed, nicely lit and well maintained. There is a slightly raised platform that is adjacent to the railing that is wide enough for any tripod. Just watch your step. For your GPS: 40.678392, -74.019554

Have a great and safe holiday.

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Quick Visit - Socrates Sculpture Park

noreply@blogger.com (Tom Dowling) — Sun, 26 Jun 2011 16:12:00 +0000

Vol. 3 No. 12

During a quick trip into the now trendy neighborhood of Astoria, in New York City's outer borough of Queens, I made a short visit to a favorite spot. Growing up in this area (which wasn't so trendy then), I spent a great deal of time along the East River waterfront. This area, with its public green spaces growing rapidly, is now attracting more activities. One spot in particular, the Socrates Sculpture Park, is partly responsible for the revitalization in the immediate area.

Until 1986, the area now occupied by the park was an abandoned landfill and dump. A group of artist got together and developed a great outdoor exhibition space and park for the neighborhood.

View more images from my quick visit to the Socrates Sculpture Park.

I am reaching out to the organization in hopes of organizing a photo walk here in the coming weeks. So make sure you check back for details.

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The Early 40's

noreply@blogger.com (Tom Dowling) — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 02:42:00 +0000

Vol. 3 No. 11

I took a step back in time this past weekend. This was possible with the help of two gorgeous models and a historical gem of a location, the American Airpower Museum in Farmingdale, New York.

With the help of Victoria Podesta and her crew from Berger Bros Camera providing the logistics, and David Piazza from Westcott providing the lights and plenty of expertise, we took to our task of recreating the 1940's.

Special thanks to our professional models Demetria and Laurence Yang for a truly wonderful and effortless experience. Both of whom I hope to work with again very soon.

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The Gals - Part 2

noreply@blogger.com (Tom Dowling) — Sat, 18 Jun 2011 05:00:00 +0000

Vol. 3 No. 10

As I continue to wade through all the great images from the American Photo Model Shoot, I offer this two-shot series of candlelight captures.

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Red Rock at Sunrise

noreply@blogger.com (Tom Dowling) — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 16:00:00 +0000

Vol. 3 No. 9

After scouting out the best photo locations along the 13 mile scenic drive earlier the day before, I ventured back to Red Rock Canyon for sunrise. With a 1 hour drive to reach my destination, I started out at 4:00 AM to catch the Sun cresting the eastern mountain range around 5:25 AM. The temperature at that point had only hit 52°F at the Calico Basin, so a hooded sweatshirt was a definite requirement. During my 2½ hour visit on this particular morning, the temperature rose more than 25 degrees.

Was it worth it? You be the judge.

Photographed within the first 10 minutes after sunrise.

This image was captured roughly 2 hours after sunrise.

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Red Rock

noreply@blogger.com (Tom Dowling) — Tue, 31 May 2011 17:00:00 +0000

Vol. 3 No. 8

While the lights of the Las Vegas Strip lure many, the main draw to the area for me lies just 15 miles west. Red Rock Canyon, a National Conservation Area, is an oasis in this neon desert.

I took the short drive up from Henderson, a southeastern suburb of Las Vegas, along State Route 160 towards the town of Blue Diamond, and then about 9 miles north on NV Route 159 where I reached a roadside overlook. With the Sun just ready to settle below the Keystone Thrust, the massive rock walls along the west of the valley that is cut by NV Route 159, I made the following image:

I plan on returning for sunrise to capture the first rays of light striking the oxidized rock formations and the Aztec Sandstone. If you make it to the area, the GPS coordinates are 36.116782, -115.444709.

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Something Completely Different

noreply@blogger.com (Tom Dowling) — Sun, 29 May 2011 16:26:00 +0000

Vol. 3 No. 7

While traveling, I made a decision to leave the bulky gear at home and go light. My choice for image capture is a point and shoot high-end performer, the Canon PowerShot G12. This 10 megapixel performer packs a ton of features that even a pro shooter will love. I coupled this with a Black Rapid SnapR combo strap and case system. Together they made for a compact travel champ.

One of the features of the G12 was its ability to capture high dynamic range (HDR) images with a single click of the shutter release button. The camera actually snaps off 3 shots then combines them in the camera. Since I was hitting a major tourist attraction, Hoover Dam during the mid-day Sun, I figured this would provide a good test. Here are some of the images captured:

I was impressed with the result. The range of contrast with the Sun high in the sky is always a tough one to tackle. The camera handled this wide range pretty well, with the highlights and shadows exposed nicely.

My decision to travel light also included leaving the laptop behind. Just my point and shoot camera, my trusty iPad2, and Apple's Camera Connection Kit handled the job nicely.

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The Gals - Part 1

noreply@blogger.com (Tom Dowling) — Fri, 27 May 2011 12:00:00 +0000

Vol. 3 No. 6

Wow - what a great line-up of beautiful women at the American Photo Model Shoot. Here is Part 1:

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Couples - Part 2

noreply@blogger.com (Tom Dowling) — Wed, 25 May 2011 16:01:00 +0000

Vol. 3 No. 5

Working with these models was a pleasure. They were extremely professional and their personalities came through beautifully. I took great enjoyment in capturing these pairings.

I present Couples - Part 2:

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The Guys - Part 1

noreply@blogger.com (Tom Dowling) — Mon, 23 May 2011 16:01:00 +0000

Vol. 3 No. 4

As promised in the last post, I will be sharing some of my favorite photographs from the American Photo Magazine's Model Shoot.

Here is the next in the series: The Guys - Part 1.

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Coming Back - Photographically

noreply@blogger.com (Tom Dowling) — Sat, 21 May 2011 21:41:00 +0000

Vol. 3 No. 3

It has been a rough several months where I have been remiss in posting. My apologies. Personal and professional circumstances have been a major distraction.

During the last four months I have been shooting studio sessions on almost a weekly basis, keeping my skills tuned. I was fortunate to have recently participated in the American Photo Magazine's Model Shoot. Over the next several posts, I will be sharing some of my favorite captures.

The following captures are part of my series of "Couples" Part 1:

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Live Music

noreply@blogger.com (Tom Dowling) — Sat, 15 Jan 2011 19:26:00 +0000

Vol. 3 No. 2

I had a great time last night when I went to see Button Down Runner playing at The Trash Bar in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Live music is always a blast and these guys put on a good show!

Photographing musicians at local venues can be extremely challenging. Dimly lit and normally crowded conditions can present some obstacles. Shooting manual and bumping up the ISO pretty high is a must. If you use flash, I recommend the rear curtain/slow sync setting to prevent your backgrounds from going black and losing all detail. A stabilized lens really can help out when hand-holding at slower shutter speeds.

A final recommendation is to shoot raw format (vs. jpeg) so you can adjust the white balance in post production. I use Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 3 for the majority of my post production work. With the various colored stage lights, it's very difficult to select the best setting in the camera. If you must, or don't have a choice but jpeg, then put some trust in your camera's "Auto" white balance setting.

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Happy New Year

noreply@blogger.com (Tom Dowling) — Sat, 01 Jan 2011 17:10:00 +0000

Vol. 3 No. 1

Welcome 2011 - happily starting a new year, and a new decade!

Making resolutions is what we all do - trying to change or make for a better self. So with that in mind, here are my 2011 photographic resolutions:

I'll make more photographs.
Getting out into the world to capture images means having a camera with me, ready to record my point of view.
I'll visit more places.
Locally, regionally, nationally and globally. Exposing myself to a variety of settings will keep my brain charged-up.
I'll take more workshops and attend more seminars.
Education is key. Learning from others and their experiences will help me grow creatively.
I'll share more of my thoughts on photography.
While life can sometimes spin out of control, I will do my best to post more articles on the LensCapture blog so we can share experiences and grow our craft.
I'll hold more photo walks.Getting together and sharing our experiences and love for photography is one of the best ways to accelerate my goal of a expanding the love for image capture.

Now I need your help! Share your ideas for articles, photo walk ideas, and questions you have about photography. Please share!

And lastly, one of my goals for the New Year is to continue making new friends.

Wishing you all a happy, safe and prosperous New Year!

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Where are the Plows???

noreply@blogger.com (Tom Dowling) — Thu, 30 Dec 2010 16:04:00 +0000

Vol. 2 No. 40

Three days since a blizzard dumped 20+ inches across New York City, a Glendale Queens resident wonders when a snowplow will visit 68th Street. A winter wonderland???

Nikon D300 35mm f/5.6 1/125sec ISO 200

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Merry Christmas

noreply@blogger.com (Tom Dowling) — Sat, 25 Dec 2010 03:43:00 +0000

Vol. 2 No. 39
Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful. ~Norman Vincent Peale

50mm f/1.4 1/90 sec. ISO 1600

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Holiday Gift Ideas for the Lady Photog

noreply@blogger.com (Tom Dowling) — Sun, 05 Dec 2010 16:17:00 +0000

Vol. 2 No. 38

With the holiday season upon us, I thought I should take a few moments and present some gift ideas for the ladies into photography. Until recently, there have not been many items specifically designed for the female photographer. Over the last year it appears the photo market is changing.

Kelly Moore Bags
Kelly Moore Clark started by sketching out her ideas for a handbag/camera bag a few years ago. Now here ideas have been realized in a line of handbags for the female shooter. She has produced four different styles for women and one for men. The bags available for women are the Classic, the Posey, B-Hobo and the mother of them all, the Juju. These bags are available in numerous colors to suit your wardrobe and taste. Here's a short video with Kelly demonstrating the features of the Kelly Moore Classic Bag.

Kelly Moore Classic Bag Tutorial from kelly clark on Vimeo.

BlackRapid Camera Strap
Anyone who has attended one of my photowalks knows I am a big fan of the Black Rapid Camera strap. I love this camera sling system because I can "run & gun" with my camera securely slung across my body. No strap slipping from my shoulder. My camera hangs upside down at my hip ready to maneuver into both landscape and portrait shooting position, sliding effortlessly along the strap system.

BlackRapid has introduced a camera strap specifically designed for women. The BlackRapid RS-W1 strap focuses on the perfect fit for the female. Here's a tutorial video showing how to use the RS-W1.

Happy shooting ladies!

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Desert Solitude

noreply@blogger.com (Tom Dowling) — Fri, 15 Oct 2010 16:00:00 +0000

Vol. 2 No. 37

Singing sand dunes, volcanic cinder cones, Joshua tree forests, and carpets of wildflowers are all found at this 1.6 million acre park. A visit to its canyons, mountains and mesas will reveal long-abandoned mines, homesteads, and rock-walled military outposts. Located between Los Angeles and Las Vegas, Mojave provides serenity and solitude from major metropolitan areas.

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Bootleg Canyon Flightlines

noreply@blogger.com (Tom Dowling) — Wed, 13 Oct 2010 08:07:00 +0000

Vol. 2 No. 36

We soared from the top of Red Mountain in Bootleg Canyon Park just outside of Boulder City, Nevada. It was a exhilarating aerial experience that took us across more than a mile and a half at speeds up to 50 mph. The views were breathtaking as we soared high above the mountain terrain with Boulder City, Lake Mead and the Eldorado Valley off in the distance.

View the Bootleg Canyon Set in Flickr.

The bird's eye view this adventure offers is something that must be experienced. If you are in the Las Vegas area, reach out to Bootleg Canyon Flightlines for an experience you'll never forget.

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I'm Back!

noreply@blogger.com (Tom Dowling) — Sun, 10 Oct 2010 19:21:00 +0000

Vol. 2 No. 35

It's been several weeks since my last post. I chalk it up to life spinning out-of-control. Not an uncommon occurrence unfortunately. I hope to be posting several times over the next few days as I am travelling through the Southwest of the United States.

I wanted to share an image to prove that there are many things to do in Las Vegas besides hitting the slots. We took a short excursion to the Southern Nevada Zoological-Botanical Park, a 15-minute trip northwest of the Las Vegas Strip. This is a very small 3-acre zoo that took about an hour to leisurely explore, but offered several photographic opportnities.

Nikon D300 200mm f/5.6 1/750 sec ISO 400

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End of Summer

noreply@blogger.com (Tom Dowling) — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 11:53:00 +0000

Vol. 2 No. 34

Where has the summer gone? Here's a photograph I made at Socrates Sculpture Garden in Long Island City, Queens. Captured handheld using a Nikkor 18-200mm VRII lens on a Nikon D300, my setting were ISO200 120mm f/6.7 1/1000th second.

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