Scenes of St. Louis

Ola Hawatmeh July 2016 Session

2016-08-21T18:57:00.001-05:00

Ola Style Spring 2017 Timelapse #2

2016-08-19T14:56:00.001-05:00

Blood in Water v2

2013-10-15T16:39:00.001-05:00

Moon Rise with Poplars

2013-03-29T10:00:00.000-05:00

It is great to have the time to grab a few shots again. This a view from our bedroom, March 27, 2013. This picture is the result of three hand held 1-stop bracketed shots processed in Nik HDR Efex 2, with minor touch up and cropping in Photoshop CS6.

New to OnOne Perfect Suite 7 is Perfect B&W. This picture was made the Albumen Print preset, after which I applied a sepia/blue split tone in Photoshop CS6. I'm fascinated by the look of early photographic processes and it is nice to have tools that support exploring them easily.

Technical
Camera: Nikon D800
Lens: AF Nikkor 180mm f/2.8D IF-ED
Exposure: Three 1-stop brackets around f/2.8 @ 1/15s @ ISO 1600
Support: Handheld
Software: DxO Optics Pro, Lightroom 4, Photoshop CS6, Nik HDR Efex, Perfect B&W

PRESTON PAGE photography: Tree of Influences Redux

2013-01-26T22:15:00.001-06:00

PRESTON PAGE photography: Tree of Influences Redux: Irving Penn, 1949 In his wonderful book, "A Notebook At Random , Irving Penn shared his "tree of influence" sketch. The exercise is r...

Testing the Nikon D4: High ISO

2012-09-12T09:14:00.002-05:00

This shot of two Ring-tailed Lemurs was captured in low light at ISO 12,800. The linked image is a 100% crop jpg. Processing is standard Lightroom 4 input sharpening and no noise reduction or output sharpening. Nikkor 300/f4 with TCII14 = 420mm, 1/80 @ f/5.6, 12,800 ISO

photography Preston Page: Full Moon, June 2012 - DxO Optics Pro Test 6

2012-06-03T01:20:00.001-05:00

photography Preston Page: Full Moon, June 2012 - DxO Optics Pro Test 6: The full moon for June 2012 provided an interesting opportunity to see how DxO Optics Pro works without a lens profile. Captured with ...

photography Preston Page: Nikon D800 News Update 2012-5-30

2012-05-30T11:40:00.001-05:00

photography Preston Page: Nikon D800 News Update 2012-5-30: The week is only half over, but there are quite a few technical updates related to the Nikon D800. Nikon D800 Firmware Update A 1.00/B ...

photography Preston Page: DxO Optics Pro Quick Look and Test 2

2012-05-28T20:33:00.001-05:00

photography Preston Page: DxO Optics Pro Quick Review and Test 2: To give DxO Optics Pro a quick test, I picked a shot from a series I'd already processed to get a feel for the difference in workflow. ...

photography Preston Page: Nikon D800 ISO 12800 Test

2012-05-27T21:42:00.001-05:00

See: photography Preston Page: Nikon D800 ISO 12800 Test: The Nikon D800 at ISO 12,800 can produce very usable images, at least for certain types of pictures and videos. This is a quick clip o...

The Fabulous Fox Theater

2012-05-25T18:50:00.000-05:00

This shot of the Fox Theater is the last picture I made with the legendary Nikon D700, snapped during the Grand Center Art Walk. The camera is on its way to an eBay buyer, replaced by a Nikon D800. Introduced in 2008, using the same FX sensor as the Nikon D3, the D700 rapidly became a game changer as the first affordable full frame DSLR.

This blue/sepia split tone version was created in Nik Silver Efex Pro 2.

Camera: Nikon D700
Lens: AF-S Nikon 50mm f/1.4G
Exposure: ISO 800 @ f/4.0 @ 1/60s Auto WB, hand held while walking.

Nikon D800/D800E News Update

2012-05-04T20:40:00.001-05:00

photography Preston Page: Amazon.com's latest estimated delivery date form m...: Amazon.com's latest estimated delivery date form my D800 of April 30 came and went with no camera on my doorstep, so rather than taking p...

Epson 4880 Printer

2011-10-04T14:59:00.002-05:00

Selling my Epson 4880 if anyone's interested. I've listed on Craig's List: http://stlouis.craigslist.org/pho/2632484227.html

Dark City #27, HDR

2011-09-11T17:28:00.001-05:00

After some time away, I've returned to collecting candidate images for my Dark City series. This picture started with three hand held 1-stop brackets processed in Nik HDR Efex.

This monochrome come from a virtual copy of the top picture with a blue/sepia split tone applied in Lightroom 3.

Technical
Camera:	Nikon D700
Lens:	Nikkor AF 24-85mm f/2.8-4 D IF
Exposure:	ISO 100, 52mm @f/8.0 @ 1/400s, Auto WB, RAW
Lighting:	Daylight
Support:	Handheld
Location:	Clayton, Missouri
Dates:	Capture - September 11, 2011, Processed - September 11, 2011
Processing:	Lightroom 3, Nik HDR Efex, Photoshop CS5

Sandy Shaw #3, Process Variations

2011-08-24T07:10:00.001-05:00

Model Sandy Shaw for Style Magazine, makeup and hair Susan Page, photo styling Marijo Bianco. Capture with Hasselblad 500 C/M, Zeiss 150mm f/4.0, Fujichrome 50. Original Cibachrome print.

Grunge version, blue/sepia split tone in Lightroom 3.

Linda Keaton in Creve Coeur Park

2011-08-23T07:31:00.002-05:00

Model Linda Keaton braving the green water in Creve Coeur Park Lake, makeup and hair by Jackie Hicks. Photo capture with Hasselblad 500 C/M, 150mm f/4.0 Sonnar, Kodak TMax 100. Original print on Agfa Portriga Rapid #3.

Grunge processing with blue and sepia split tone in Nik Silver Efex Pro 2.

Pennie #5 Process Variations

2011-08-21T16:34:00.000-05:00

Pennie Beaumont strutting her stuff for an ad... that I really don't remember what it was for, but likely the boots! But I always like the mood of this picture. This picture was made with a Nikon F2 w/motor drive (did I mention I miss that sound?), Reflex Nikkor 500mm f/8.0, K2 filter, Miller fluid head on a Sampson tripod, Ilford Delta 3200. It was windy, overcast and blistering hot.

Platinum reprint.

The original cyanotype is lost, but recreated here using Nik Silver Efex Pro 2 and my custom preset.

Pennie in Stix Fur Ad

2011-08-21T15:56:00.000-05:00

This is model Pennie Beaumont in picture ran for several years as an ad for the Stix, Baer & Fuller fur salon. The day we were to shoot, the furs were stolen from a loading dock before any could make it to the studio, so we had to make do with Pennie's own winter coat, which was dark and had some texture, but was nothing like fur, really. Photo made with a Nikon F2 w/motor drive (I miss that sound!), Nikkor 105mm f/2.5, Kodak Panatomic X, K2 filter and printed on Agfa Portriga Rapid.

Terrence #2 - Variations

2011-08-21T15:14:00.001-05:00

Model Terrence dropped by the studio after a hard gym workout for a few quick shots. At the time, I was influenced by Francis Bacon for male nude form. Created with a Leica M3, 90mm f/2.8 Elmarit, Afgapan 25, K2 filter, single Broncolor Pulso head with a honeycomb grid. Originally printed on Agfa Portriga Rapid, this is a digital copy made a Nikon D700 and Micro-Nikkor 60mm f/2.8.

Polaroid P/N transfer version.

Blue/Sepia split tone version.

Jenny in Denim, Process Variations

2011-08-21T12:42:00.000-05:00

Model Jenny in vintage denim, makeup by Susan Page, photo styling by Marijo Bianco for Style Magazine. Picture made with a Leica M2, 90mm f/2.8 Elmarit, Kodak Ektachrome 64 Professional.

I made a cyanotype version for the original project, which was a denim series, but the original print was lost. The recreation here is from Nik Silver Efex Pro 2.

Summer Beauty Editorial - In January

2011-08-20T21:12:00.000-05:00

So, what do you do in when your assignment is a Summer beauty editorial, but it's January, 20F, two feet of snow on the ground and there is no travel budget and the film has to go out that day? Why, bring 300 pounds of sand into the studio and pour it on the floor of course! We had no swimsuit or beach wear, so the cover up top is just a scarf. Captured with a Sinar F 4x5 and 300mm Schneider Symar on Ektachrome 64 professional. Lighting is a Broncolor Flashman, Pulso head and direct light from an umbrella reflector.

In retrospect, I should have used white sand, not Meramec river sand, but the picture won a couple of awards anyway.

A Hollywood Platinum print version made in Nik Silver Efes Pro 2.

Sandy Shaw #2 Process Variations

2011-08-20T20:05:00.000-05:00

This is a digital copy of a Cibachrome print from my 1990's fashion portfolio. The model is Sandy Shaw, with makeup and photo styling by Susan Page. Sandy was our daughter's dance teacher. The picture was made with a Leica M2 and 90mm Elmarit f/2.8 on Ektachrome 64 Professional. Lighting is Broncolor Flashman and Pulso heads.

By accident, I opened the picture in Nik Silver Efex Pro (not the new 2), and stumbled on this preset I made to simulate print solarizaton.

In the late 80's and early 90's I occasionally made alternative print processes, like this cyanotype.

Staircase #3, HDR Variations

2011-07-30T19:09:00.000-05:00

About a year ago I posted two pictures of this staircase at the St. Louis University Museum of Art that were single image HDR mappings. Today I returned to to make bracketed shots from a different angle with a wider lens. Processing steps include passes through Nik HDR Efex, Photoshop CS5, Nik Color Efex Pro and Nik Dfine. Nik Silver Efex Pro 2 was the final step, applying a strong blue filter, blue/sepia split tone and the Agfapan 100 film preset.

In Nik Color Efex Pro's Glamour Glow preset, I've worked out setting I call Vintage Glamour, which applies a gentle glow and desaturates the color.

Technical
Camera:	Nikon D700
Lens:	Nikkor AF 24-85mm f/2.8-4 D IF
Exposure:	ISO 1600, f/5.6 @ 1/20s base, 3 1-stop brackets, Auto WB, RAW
Lighting:	Mixed window and tungsten
Support:	Handheld
Location:	St. Louis University Museum of Art GPS
Dates:	Capture - July 30, 2011, Processed - July 30, 2011
Processing:	Lightroom 3.3, Photoshop CS5, Nik HDR Efex, Nik Color Efex Pro

Calla Lilly #1 Variations

2011-07-24T20:19:00.000-05:00

After several weeks of schedule conflicts, Susan and I finally made it to the studio to collaborate on a series of flower pictures. Our first subject is this calla lily, actually a sickly plant we picked up at Trader Joe's, but we liked the bloom. I noticed that Susan has been looking at a lot of Gustav Klimpt's paintings lately, so I thought I'd make a picture using technique that pays its respects to his work.

For the monochrome variant, I went with the Platinum process, which was new in Klimpt's day, with Nik Silver Efex Pro 2 using my own Platinum preset and a K2 equivalent filter.

Going even older old school, a runner up for me is this antique print process, one of the new presets in Nik Silver Efex Pro 2. The defaults are too flat for my taste, but served as a starting point.

Technical
Camera:	Nikon D700
Lens:	AF Micro-Nikkor 105mm f/2.8 D
Exposure:	ISO 200, f/22 @ 1/60s, 5 1-stop flash brackets, Daylight WB, RAW
Lighting:	Ringlight strobe, small Flashpoint 85 watt fluorescent bank
Support:	Gitzo Basalt Tripod and Acratech GP-2 ball head and leveling base
Location:	Grand Center Artist Studio
Dates:	Capture - July 24, 2011, Processed - July 24, 2011
Processing:	Lightroom 3.3, Photoshop CS5, Nik HDR Efex, Nik Color Efex Pro

Lotus Blossom #12, HDR

2011-07-21T21:45:00.000-05:00

One last lotus blossom for the season, adjacent to the previous post. Even though the angle in relation to the sun was only about 15 degrees different, the full back lit glow is missing. Still, I liked the composition and clicked off the bracket series.

The monochrome generated by Nik Silver Efex Pro 2 is a platinum print preset I developed.

Technical
Camera:	Nikon D700
Lens:	AF NIKKOR 180mm f/2.8D IF-ED "Leni Lens"
Exposure:	ISO 200, 3 brackets around f/8.0 @ 1/200s, Auto WB, RAW
Lighting:	Hazy sunlight
Support:	Gitzo Basalt Tripod, Acratech GP-2 w/leveling base, RRS L-Bracket
Location:	Missouri Botanical Gardens, St. Louis
Dates:	Capture - July 16, 2011, Processed July 17, 2011
Processing:	Lightroom 3, Photoshop CS5, Nik HDR Efex, Nik Silver Efex Pro 2