Ohio Hiker Photography Blog

Photography Tip Tuesday - What the Crop!

2014-01-21T17:44:00.000-05:00

What the Crop! - Understanding Aspect Ratios

4:3; 1:1; 1:1.5; 2:1; 3:1; 16:9 - What does all this mean????

In the past we lived in an 35mm film world.

The 35mm film frame was a 1:1.5 ratio. The exact size of the film frame was 36mmx24mm. This fits a 5x7 and 4x6 print size perfectly.

In the past our televisions were 4:3 ratio. All that has changed. Our lives are now 16:9 with widescreen televisions and computer screens, we are changing the way we look at images.

My portraits, for the most part, are still printed in standard aspect ratios. Landscapes are a different story. I prefer wider images for my landscape work. Although I will throw in a square crop every now then if it fits the scene.

Let's take a look at some examples.

This photograph of Cathedral Falls in Gauley Bridge, West Virginia, was photographed with the intention of being a 3:1 photograph. The waterfall is a tall waterfall and in order to give a feeling of its size I used a 3:1 aspect ratio. Another contributing factor to this is the fact that this is a panorama using 36 photographs to create the final photograph.

Here is Spaceship Earth at Walt Disney World's EPCOT Center. This is cropped in a square aspect ratio. The choice for this aspect ratio was based on the fact that not using a square crop would have left many elements that would likely detract from the subject of this photograph.

One final example. This was photographed the a few days ago. The Ohio River was icing over at its banks and due to the extreme cold, fog was rising off the river. I wanted to photograph a very low angle so I set my camera right on the ice. This created a blurry foreground that added nothing to the image. The ice is also very bright and draws your eye away from the center of the image.

I wanted to include as much of the rest scene as possible. When I settled on a final crop, I used a 2:1 aspect ratio.

Using aspect ratios like 1:1, 2:1 and 3:1 can still be printed on standard photographic paper by a reputable lab. Therefore having your images printed in these aspect ratios is not an issue. Framing them is a little more difficult. You can always buy a standard frame and have a custom mat cut if you don't want to have a custom frame size made.

Using different aspect ratios to crop your images allows you to remove distracting elements, bring attention to your subject, and infer scale to your subject. So next time you use your crop tool, try a different aspect ratio. The results may surprise you!

Enjoy,
Chris

Photo Tip Tuesday - Keeping a Level Head

2014-01-14T12:00:00.001-05:00

So what does the vestibular system of the ear have to do with photography? Have you ever looked at the horizon at the beach, a tall building or any other straight line? With your vision they always look straight. In a photograph, your eye is naturally drawn to things that seem "out of place". This includes horizons or things that should be straight that aren't. Let me show you some examples and see what you think. Let's start off with something with a definite horizon. Here is a picture of Jeanette's Pier in Nags Head, North Carolina. When I took this photo, I was using my tripod. I still managed to not have the photograph perfectly level. It feels uncomfortable, almost like you could roll of the left side. This photograph was only off 1.4 degrees. That is not very much, yet it stands out like a sore thumb when you really look at it. Roll your mouse over the image to see the difference. So lets take a look at a building with vertical lines. This is Cora Mill that used to stand in Gallia County, Ohio. Again this was shot on a tripod but I was not perfectly level. The mill is 1.2 degrees off. The mill looks like it is tipping to the right.Roll your mouse over the image to see the difference. Here is an example from soccer season. The goal is crooked. This one is off about 2 degrees. Again, mouse over the image to see the changes. While these are very subtle changes, it is the difference between a good photograph and a great photograph Getting this correct in camera is the best way to do this. If you are using a tripod, some tripod heads have a built in level. If not, you can get a hot shoe bubble level. Many new cameras however, have a level built in to the viewfinder. Correcting horizons or vertical lines is very easy. Most basic editing software allows you to adjust your image. Basic editors may not give you precise control. I use Adobe Lightroom and find the grid overlay when adjusting the angle very helpful. Here is a view of the crop tool in Adobe Lightroom. Adobe Lightroom and many other editors have an angle tool that you can drag along a vertical or horizontal line to correct the angle. Keeping a level head isn't limited to regular cameras. I often take pictures with my iPhone or iPad. The Apple IOS allows you to adjust your photograph's angle, but I prefer Snapseed. Here is a photograph from my iPhone. The horizon is obviously not level. Using the Straighten feature in Snapseed, I can correct the level of the horizon. Remember, keep your head level and take a few extra seconds to straighten your photographs. Enjoy, Chris

Smoke on the River

2014-01-07T12:29:00.000-05:00

We are experiencing very cold temperatures the last few days. With the extremely cold air temperatures and the river water being warmer, you get a weather phenomena called "Sea Smoke". The wind is blowing this smoke across the river today.

With sub-zero temperatures and a wind chill in the -30 degree range, be sure to bundle up and stay warm.

Enjoy,
Chris

First Snow of 2014

2014-01-03T09:58:00.001-05:00

Yesterday was the first snow of the 2014. By the time enough snow had accumulated the light was gone. Checking the forecast I knew it should be clear this morning for sunrise. The Gallipolis City Park was decorated very nicely for the Christmas season with some new light displays. I had not gotten lighting I had been hoping for to photograph the park after it was decorated. So this morning I got up early to see how much snow we had gotten. Much to my surprise we had gotten about 3 inches. Enough to cover the grass. It was a little before sunrise and the sky was very clear(it was very cold out too). I grabbed the camera and tripod and headed to town to see what I could photograph. The skies were still dark but headed to that deep blue just before daylight. I found the angles that I liked and took a few pictures.

The first angle was standing along the sidewalk. I wanted to capture the light post on the right along with some of the lights in the tree. Luckily I arrived before anyone had walked on the sidewalk leading up to the Bandstand.

Next I wanted to capture the more of the lights in the trees and the large fir tree that sits in the park. In order to do this I actually was setup with my tripod in the middle of First Avenue. Luckily traffic was sparse.

Enjoy the snow today, take it easy on the roads.

Enjoy,
Chris

Top Ten from 2013

2013-12-31T17:07:00.000-05:00

2013 is over and time to reflect. It was a busy year with my day job as a flight paramedic, this limited my time for photography. This made narrowing the field easier for my favorites.

Since work took up much of my time, the aircraft became the focus of my camera several times. Here are two of my favorite images of the Eurocopter EC-130 that I spent a lot of time with. This was a brand new aircraft in January when we received it. It is an amazing machine and I enjoy flying in it.

This photograph was from the morning we made the announcement about putting the aircraft in service to the news media. This was taken as sun was rising behind the helipad.

This photograph is a long exposure. The star trails and the lighting from the helipad lights made for a great photograph of the helicopter.

I always enjoy being outside, this year that time was limited. I did get out a few times and two images are from being out. The first is an early morning spring sunrise over the Ohio River.

The next photograph is from a day of hiking. This baby robin was laying in the grass waiting in the grass for its mother to return.

I always have a great time photographing high school seniors. This is my favorite type of portrait. These are my three favorites from my senior sessions this year.

I had an amazing time with my family this year at Walt Disney World. This is one of my favorite places to photograph. The imagineers do such a masterful job with laying out the attractions that, other than the crowds, distractions are almost non existent. So the last three photographs are from are from Walt Disney World.

Our all time favorite resort at Walt Disney World is Caribbean Beach. The island feel and it is so laid back we can really settle in and relax.

The World Showcase at EPCOT Center is my favorite place to photograph. After the fireworks, the park clears out and I usually spend an hour here after the park closes. I walk around with my tripod and photograph the different countries. The China Pavilion usually has the most people lingering around, this time I was able get a photograph without people passing through my frame.

My all time favorite of 2013 is also at Walt Disney World. I have attempted this photograph several times and not been happy with the results. This year the 8mm fisheye lens was the key. I was able to get the composition I was looking for. I decided on a square crop the eliminated all the other distractions and leads your eye through the fountain and the iconic Spaceship Earth.

Looking forward to 2014 I have several projects planned. Be sure to subscribe to the blog, follow me on Facebook or Google+.

Enjoy,

Chris

Seniors 2014

2013-06-17T09:37:00.001-04:00

2014 Seniors, it is time to start thinking about your Senior Portraits.

Let your Senior Portraits tell your story, who you are.

What your Passion is.

Book now, call 740-709-6351 or e-mail to chris@ohiohikerphotography.com

Enjoy,
Chris

Out for a Hike

2013-05-10T22:17:00.000-04:00

Today I took a few hours to go hike. I had a new Sigma 50mm f1.4 to play around with so I thought I would share a few photographs from the day. Enjoy, Chris

2012 Worldwide Photowalk

2012-10-14T08:41:00.001-04:00

Last night in Gallipolis, I hosted a group of photographers for the 2012 Worldwide Photowalk. If you are not familiar with the Worldwide Photowalk, be sure to visit the website. We met at the Gallipolis City Park and walked around the downtown area. We had hoped for a great sunset but some clouds moved in and stifled that idea. It was a homecoming evening for one of the local high schools, so there were groups of people in front of the bandstand. We moved over to the doughboy and discussed how to shoot backlit situations using spot metering. From there we headed up towards the Ariel Theater and just branched out on our own. Here is the marquee for the Ariel Theater. The display at Tawney's Jewelers. The neon sign at B&E Shoe Repair. Finally the traffic at Second Avenue and State Street. I had a great time and look forward to next year! Enjoy, Chris

Framing Friday - Preserving History

2012-06-15T11:22:00.001-04:00

It is amazing the history of Gallipolis and Gallia County. A few weeks ago Dr. Samuel L. Bossard Library contacted my about framing a newspaper. The paper was from February 17, 1938. It was the Daily Tribune published about the Funeral of Oscar Odd McIntyre. O. O. was a writer of the syndicated column "New York Day by Day". Newsprint is made to be inexpensive and not last for long periods of time. The paper has a high acid content that has to be neutralized in order to prevent deterioration. This paper had been treated but not until after it had sustained damage. Where the folds were several holes had formed and the paper had broken apart. In these 2 photographs you can see the holes and tears. The newspaper had to be mounted using a vacuum press. The mounting pulled the newspaper flat with careful attention the rips and tears were aligned. The newspaper was then matted and framed using conservation materials and UV resistant glass. The final project will hang in the McIntyre Room at the Dr. Samuel L. Bossard Library in Gallipolis, Ohio. Enjoy, Chris

Framing Friday - Fast Framing

2012-06-01T17:15:00.000-04:00

Framing is labor intensive. Most people don't realize the care and attention to detail required in Custom Framing. A few weeks ago I did a photography and framing project for The Friends of Bossard Library. Trees had been planted in the memory of Randall Callahan and Marshall "Sandy" Brown. A framed photograph of the trees and plaques were to be given to the family members at the dedication. After photographing the trees and plaques I printed the photographs on rag paper. I wanted a torn edge look for the main photograph of the trees. I laid out the matting for a small shadow box to accent the photographs with a smaller mat window for the photograph of the plaque. Finally I cut and joined the frames. Assembled the package added a dust cover and hanger. While doing this I created a time lapse of the matting and assembly. While the video is only 56 seconds long, this was taken over about 2 hours. Here are the photographs of the final frames. Enjoy, Chris

Raccoon Creek County Park

2012-05-15T09:14:00.000-04:00

At O.O. McIntyre Park District's Raccoon Creek County park there are several small streams that are off the beaten path. These streams only flow when it has been raining. After a 2 day soaking rain I wanted to try to return to on of these streams I tried to photograph last year but did not get the result I was looking for. There was still a heavy drizzle so I was glad for the weather sealing on my Sony A77. Last year with my Sony A100 I went with a plastic bag taped over the camera to protect it from the rain. The first shot after taking it I did not like the angle. So I reset my tripod to a lower height just inches above the water. You can see the change in point of view really changes the mood of the photograph. I also wanted to do a few HDR vertical panoramas. These are stitched from 20 images. using Photomatix and Photoshop CS5. I also wanted a landscape composition to go along with the vertical panoramas and the portrait compositions. Finally the Sony A77 does HD video. I shot a short 30 second video of the running water. Enjoy, Chris

Sony A77

2012-04-16T08:16:00.003-04:00

After photographing with my Sony A100 for almost 4 years and over 100,000 shutter clicks, it was finally starting to show it age. The day I decided to retire it to a back up camera I was a little dismayed. I know the button locations by memory and can make changes without thinking about. I knew when I needed to add a little exposure compensation or a little white balance adjustment. Though it was only 11 megapixels I frequently printed large prints up to 16x32 that looked amazing. Though I knew this day was coming I hated to retire it to the bottom of the camera bag.

I had been waiting for Sony to release the A77 body for about 2 years. I knew with development taking so long and Sony's reputation I knew it would be an amazing camera. So about 2 weeks ago I finally ordered my A77.

The A77 is not a true DSLR, it is an DSLT. A DSLR has a mirror that is used for the optical view finder that has to flip up and out of the way to take a picture. The A77 has a semi translucent mirror that stays in place. Instead of an optical view finder it has an electronic view finder. I was skeptical of this at first but have come to really love the features of an electronic viewfinder. The A77's SLT technology allows it to take an amazing 12 frames per second and use phase detection autofocus for HD video. I was thoroughly surprised to find that my Sony HVL-F58AM flash would keep up with the 12 frames per second also. In addition to these features the Sony A77 is a 24 megapixel camera compared to my 11 megapixels. Also the low light ability with ISO up to 16,000. I am still testing the ISO range but it seems usable up to ISO 4000.

Trevor doing a flip at 12 frames per second.

Some photographs from doing some HDR testing and macro testing.

Macro Testing

HDR Testing

Look for more testing results soon.

Enjoy,
Chris

Legend of the Dogwood

2012-04-08T12:45:00.001-04:00

At the time of Crucifixion the dogwood had been the size of the oak and other forest trees. So firm and strong was the tree that it was chosen as the timber for the cross. To be used thus for such a cruel purpose greatly distressed the tree, and Jesus nailed upon it, sensed this.

In His gentle pity for all sorrow and suffering Jesus said to the tree: "Because of your regret and pity for My suffering, never again shall the dogwood tree grow large enough to be used as a cross. Henceforth it shall be slender and bent and twisted and its blossoms shall be in the form of a cross--two long and two short petals. And in the center of the outer edge of each petal there will be nail prints, brown with rust and stained with red, and in the center of the flower will be a crown of thorns, and all who see it will remember."

Enjoy,
Chris

Framing Friday - Moulding of the Month

2012-03-16T21:16:00.002-04:00

If you did not already know, I offer full service framing. I have a full line of mats, mouldings, and glass. I can frame anything from photos, to Jerseys, to cross stitches and more. I am starting a Moulding of the Month Program. The first moulding will be available at discount pricing on all orders placed by April 30, 2012. The pricing reflects a 15% discount.

This months moulding is a 2 3/4" wide Reverse Honey Scoop. This is a distressed moulding with a gold lip.

Pricing this Month is as follows:
8x10 - $35.50
11x14 - $44.07
16x20 - $57.53
20x24 - $67.32

Pricing does not include glass, mounting and matting. If you have any questions e-mail me at: chris@ohiohikerphotography.com

Enjoy,
Chris

Snowy Morning

2012-02-08T19:50:00.002-05:00

Woke up this morning to a light dusting of snow.

Enjoy,
Chris

Hiking - Kanawha Trace

2012-02-07T18:51:00.007-05:00

The Kanawha Trace is a 32 mile trail from Barboursville to Fraziers Bottom in West Virginia. It is maintained by the Boys Scouts of America. Yesterday I section hiked from Hannan High School to Blackjack School. The section was about 5.6 miles and then I returned to my truck. My total was 11.3 miles. The GPS told me my moving time was 3 hours 37 minutes and my average speed was 3.1 miles per hour. I tried to keep my load light but did manage to take my camera, two lenses and my GoPro Hero 2 for some video. It was a frosty morning to start but the day turned out to be a beautiful February day.

This is Blackjack School that is used as a camp by the scouts.

I also did some video using my GoPro Hero 2. This is a short 5x5, 5 seperate clips lasting 5 seconds each.

You can see the HD Version of the video here

Enjoy,
Chris

Green Bottom Wildlife Area

2012-01-21T09:13:00.003-05:00

You never know how the weather is going to change. I almost always have my camera and tripod with me and Tuesday evening I was glad I did. After a stormy day, I was leaving Huntington to head home. The clouds were breaking up and with the winds they were moving fast. As the sun began to set I pulled off along West Virginia Route 2 for a about 30 minutes to take some pictures. I am glad I had my camera and tripod. I also had my GoPro Hero2 so I shot a time lapse and some video. I really enjoyed the half hour I spent taking these photographs and as I was leaving the skies darkened again with clouds and more rain followed.

The music is Autumn Sunset by Jason Shaw. http://audionautix.com/index.htm

I also put together a video of the shoot and some of the editing of the photographs.

Here are the final images from the Green Bottom Wildlife Area.

Enjoy,
Chris

Early Morning Sunrise

2012-01-16T12:28:00.007-05:00

A New Year, new things and new ideas. I have many ideas for this year and I am already behind... This morning as I was finishing my shift I noticed the sun was starting to rise and it looked to be a beautiful sunrise. I setup and took the photo and I was planning to wait around to see if the colors developed further, but they faded quickly. After editing the the photograph I decided to create a quick video of the editing process. I am planning more videos like this so by all means if there is a topic you are interested in let me know and I will see about covering. My goal is one video per week and one blog post about custom framing. Just send an e-mail to chris@ohiohikerphotography.com

Here is the video of the edit, be gentle it is my first video. Give me some time to get better at this. Hopefully the learning curve won't be too steep and the quality will improve quickly.

Enjoy,
Chris

New Print Release

2011-12-06T19:57:00.002-05:00

Now at the Home Place in Gallipolis I have a new print for Christmas. I photographed this picture of the Bandstand and Kerr fountain last January. Two sizes are currently available with a third size out later this week.

This is a 5x10 inch print. This is printed on Cotton Rag paper with torn edges and shadow box mounting. It is available for $75.00

This is a 10x20 inch print with a triple mat. This is printed on Kodak Professional Metallic paper. It is available at $175.00

Also coming soon is a 12x24 inch print with a triple mat.

Framed Prints can also be ordered by contacting me at chris@ohiohikerphotography.com

Enjoy,
Chris

Frosty Sunrise

2011-12-03T11:13:00.003-05:00

It has been a while since I have visited my blog, I apologize for that and am going to get back into the blogging again. This morning on my way home from work I could not resist stopping to photograph this amazing sunrise over a frosty field. With the time change and driving home at 7:00 in the morning I often get to witness the majesty of a sunrise. All the brilliant colors of the morning sun breaking through the cold dark night.

As always you can click on the photo to see a larger size.

Enjoy,
Chris

Morning Jewels

2011-10-07T20:28:00.000-04:00

There is nothing like the morning dew on a spider web. The small droplets refracting the early morning light is amazing. I looked around for the weaver of this web but was unable find the spider.

Enjoy,
Chris

2011 Worldwide Photowalk

2011-10-04T19:42:00.004-04:00

This past Sunday I hosted a photo walk in Gallipolis, Ohio as part of the 4th Annual Worldwide Photowalk. We had a good time walking around downtown Gallipolis. I had a small group and I was able to provide some one one one instruction with each of the participants. So now to share some of my photos from the walk.

Enjoy,
Chris

2011 Worldwide Photowalk

2011-09-24T13:14:00.003-04:00

Sunday October 2, 2011 will be the 4th Annual Scott Kelby's Worldwide Photowalk. I will be hosting a walk in Gallipolis. Starting at 2:00 at the Gallipolis Band Stand we will start at the City Park and walk through downtown Gallipolis. This is open to photographers of all ages and skill levels. All you have to do is register for FREE at the Worldwide Photowalk Website. I will be providing limited instruction during the walk.

I have created a Flickr Group for you to share your pictures with other walkers. If you do not have a Flickr account it is free. Sharing is optional, but I will pick a winning photograph to be submitted for the Worldwide Grand Prize. If you have any questions e-mail me at chris@ohiohikerphotography.com. Hope to see you next weekend!

Chris

New Framed Prints

2011-08-29T20:00:00.002-04:00

I am excited to announce 4 new framed prints. These photographs are from my 365 Project and will be available at The Home Place in Gallipolis. These are printed on Fine Art Cotton Rag paper and float mounted. The pictures of these prints do not do them justice. Look for different prints to be available printed and framed like this.

The first is the sunflower print from a few weeks ago on Day 324.

The detail of the mounting can be seen in this picture. The print has torn edges and floats above the background. The mats also are spaced to create a shadow box.

The next print is of the full Moon rising. This photograph is from Day 219 on March 19, 2011 when the Moon was at its closest to the earth for the next 18 years.

Again this print is float mounted with the mat spaced to create a shadow box effect.

The next is from Day 2. This is one of my favorite pictures from the project.

The detail of the mounting can be seen below.

The last image I selected is a sunset one evening after a storm. This is from Day 274.

The detail can be seen below.

These are all framed in a smaller size. The first 3 prints are 5" x 7 1/2" framed to 8 1/2" x 11" and the sunset is a panoramic image and is 10 1/2" x 5" and framed to 13 1/2" x 8 1/2"

Enjoy,
Chris

Off the Beaten Path

2011-08-29T07:27:00.002-04:00

Friday I had to run some errands and decided to take a few back roads. The nice thing about being a paramedic is that I know most of the roads in the county. The sky had no haze and some light clouds so I thought I would make a few photographs along the way. I found an old log cabin at the fork in the road. A mile or so later, an abandon house. These images were just begging for a black and white conversion.

Enjoy,
Chris