A Thousand Words...

Wherever I lay my hat

2012-02-05T20:48:00.000-05:00

I have been wanting to play with the mannequins I bought a while back and figuring out what to do with them. When I was at the liquor store last week, I saw Broker's Gin - good because I needed to restock for my martinis. Broker's comes with a bowler hat on the bottle. Cool, because I thought maybe the hat would fit on the mannequin, and as a bonus, I get more gin.

It fit perfectly. I also wanted a dark background, so I did some fancy lighting, setting a fast shutter speed (at max sync speed) to cut all available light, and set the aperture to control the light coming from my SB900 flash. I set the flash to remote mode, and set the power to 1/32, and added an orange gel to get some extra colour. After playing with it a bit, I wasn't happy with the effect. Then my son came downstairs, and I quickly recruited him to hold the flash off and up to the left. Bingo! Exactly what I was looking for.

Manual Mode
Aperture: f8
ISO: 200
Lens: Nikkor 24-120mm f4 G ED VR
Focal Length: 98 mm
Shutter: 0.004s (1/250)

Embrace Part 2

2012-01-30T14:38:00.000-05:00

To carry on from last post (and this is a longer span than I had intended), after playing with the iPad light, I had another plan.

I have a small key chain camera, that, when the shutter button is pressed, it flashes an LED light in the flash, and a cheesy camera sound emits. It does three "frames" per press. I had the intention of having mannequin #1 taking a photo of mannequin #2, and the flash going off during the exposure. That is the plan. I haven't attempted it yet, and there are some issues with it all. TBD.

So after the iPad light thing, I saw this little camera and thought, what if I used that LED flash as the light source? Of course, you are looking at the result on the left. I tried a few variants of where each of the "frames of flash" occurred until I got a good one. Due to the harshness of the light, a black and white treatment seemed a good option as well.

So this all goes to show, any light source can be a possibility; even a key chain!

Manual Mode
Aperture: f8
ISO: 200
Lens: Nikkor 70-200mm 2.8G ED VR
Focal Length: 200 mm
Shutter: 2s (2/1)

Embrace, part 1

2012-01-16T22:27:00.000-05:00

I have been wanting to do something different. Something with figures, or mannequins or something that would cause me to create a scene. An art store had some wooden mannequins on sale, so I went and bought a couple. Today, I had an idea of what to do, and the lighting to make it happen. Of course, as it usually is, the idea in my head did not translate as well to the camera. But I played a bit.

My original plan was a back lit pair of mannequins hugging, and a snoot primary light pointing at them. It was too much. So I went a bi different. I broke out the tripod and set up a long exposure. I used an iPad as my main light source using a app called Softbox. Using this app, I set a colour, and during the exposure, "washed" the couple with the light. It took a few goes to get the timing and the motion of the iPad to get just the right look. In the end, the look is close to what I wanted.

Manual Mode
Aperture: f8
ISO: 200
Lens: Nikkor 70-200mm 2.8G ED VR
Focal Length: 200 mm
Shutter: 2s (2/1)

Sky in Flames

2012-01-04T18:06:00.000-05:00

I get up early in the morning. This time of year, its dark. Ugh. Getting up is tough. But, after a shower, I go into my bedroom and get a nice sight like this.

I have many photos of sunrises and sunsets. So as I was getting things together, I kept looking at the sight, and with every minute, it changed. I finally decided to get a picture. I liked the silhouetted pines between the houses. Of course, being in the suburbs, there is always a reminder where you are, so some civilization always has to creep in.

This photo is pretty much as is. I did little to process it other than adjust the contrast and clarity, and enhance the blacks. Oh, and toned down the blue slider so the snow looked more white.

Manual Mode
Aperture: f4
ISO: 400
Lens: Nikkor 24-120mm f4 G ED VR
Focal Length: 120 mm
Shutter: 0.008s (1/125)

By candelight

2012-01-03T11:41:00.000-05:00

Happy New Year!

A new year, new beginnings, and...a new lens. I have been humming and hawing for many months over the new Nikon 24-120 f4 lens. The pros were its range, making it a fine walk around lens, it was lighter than my 24-70, a constant open aperture of f4, and VR (vibration reduction) technology. The cons were the slower f4 aperture, my other lenses did fulfill most of that range (and faster), and the price. But then the local camera store had it on sale for a significant amount off. More than they had all last year. Coupled with a bit of xmas gift money, it became more of an option.

So I broke down and got it. It will certainly help in any future travel when deciding what lenses to take, thus possibly making my load a little lighter. So, here is my first shot with the new acquisition. I have a number of tea-light candles on a narrow shelf in the stairwell. When all were lit, it gave a really nice glow look. Thanks to the magic of VR and high ISO performance on the camera, I was able to get this shot holding the camera.

Manual Mode
Aperture: f4
ISO: 3200
Lens: Nikkor 24-120mm f4 G ED VR
Focal Length: 24 mm
Shutter: 0.0333s (1/30)

Christmas Lights

2011-12-24T14:32:00.000-05:00

As is customary in Ottawa this time of year, is the lights on Parliament Hill. This year, we went to the official opening. The Prime Minister was there, other key local dignitaries, and a school choir. During the opening there was fireworks too, and free beaver tails (if you felt like waiting in a very long line for them).

It was a nice, simple event, with a few other activities going on. The official "switch" was thrown, and The Hill, and other parts of downtown, were lit up with thousands of lights.

As usual, I brought the camera, and went with the wide angle lens to get as much as I could into every frame. I didn't lug the tripod with me - it stayed safely in the car. So any shots were tough to get. The lens I used had VR which helped, and the awesome high ISO handling of the D700 brought it all together.

The only thing lacking, was some snow.

And with that, I wish everyone a, happy, save and Merry Christmas. And may all your presents have a very wide aperture.

Manual Mode
Aperture: f4
ISO: 3200
Lens: Nikkor 16-35mm f4 G ED VR
Focal Length: 16 mm
Shutter: 0.0333s (1/30)

Mirror balls

2011-12-22T22:28:00.001-05:00

With Christmas comes decorations. My girlfriend is taken with decorating, and I'm happy to let her have at it. One thing she did was hand these mirror tree decorations off of the dining room lights. I like the convex look of them, and spent some time figuring out how to get a decent picture of them. They just look neat.

After much playing around, I went with a long lens to get close to the balls, but I didn't want me in the final image. Thankfully, I have a dark book shelf. So, since I was wearing dark clothes, I huddled in the corner and took the shot. You would need the full size photo to find me. I didn't use any post processing to remove me from the image.

Manual Mode
Aperture: f2.8
ISO: 1600
Lens: Nikkor 70-200mm 2.8G ED VR with Nikon 1.4x teleconverter
Focal Length: 135 mm
Shutter: .0028s (1/350)

A seat in the garden

2011-12-05T22:06:00.000-05:00

After the visit to the RCMP stables, we swung by Rideau Hall. It is where the Governor General of Canada - the representative to the Queen - lives. The grounds are open to the public through out the year to wander in the gardens. Included on the grounds are trees planted by various dignitaries. Yes, Will and Kate planted a tree - a fir tree - when they visited this past July.

Again, owning to a very dreary day in November, I didn't expect much in the way of photos. I was pleased when I saw a bench up against a cedar hedge, making for a nice composition. Again also, with the poor light, the camera did it's own thing to the image captured, giving it an automatic style. I only desaturated it a bit and added a light touch of vignette.

Manual Mode
Aperture: f5.6
ISO: 200
Lens: X100 23mm
Focal Length: 23mm
Shutter: 0.004 (1/250)

Framed Classic

2011-12-02T16:07:00.000-05:00

We took a friend from out west on a mini-tour of some of the views in Ottawa, before the start of the Grey Cup. One was a stop the RCMP Musical Ride stables, on the chance we could get in to see the horses. No such luck on this particular Sunday. We wandered the grounds a bit, and I saw this photo in my mind with the bench framed between the two trees.

I took a few shots from different angles and looks. It was an incredibly grey and wet November day, so the X100 I brought had some issues (as I would expect, the light being rather dismal). So back on the computer I put it into a black and white photo. The resulting image you see here has an almost classic look to it. You may even think it was taken 100 years ago and I just scanned it. But no, that's the way it turned out. Click the image to get a larger view.

Manual Mode
Aperture: f8
ISO: 200
Lens: X100 23mm
Focal Length: 23mm
Shutter: 0.001 (1/1000)

Dormant Starburst

2011-11-20T23:09:00.000-05:00

Ahhh November. When everything is brown and grey. It makes it difficult to get some decent and unique photos. Colours are bland and everything looks the same.

Still, one my daily walks at lunch, I tote a camera just in case something interesting appears. On a day last week, I noticed some dormant weed-like plants. I had my X100 with me, so I flipped it into macro mode and got this shot. The colours may be gone, the shots are still there if looking creatively.

Manual Mode
Aperture: f8
ISO: 200
Lens: X100 23mm
Focal Length: 23 mm
Shutter: 0.004s (1/250)

Dog's View

2011-11-09T20:06:00.002-05:00

I am on a mailing list for a photography newsletter, and each month there is a contest. They give a theme, and then its up to the reader to come up with a photo for that theme. I usually watch from the sidelines, but as time is limited for fun photography, I've taken upon myself to submit at least one (I can put in as much as three) photo for the category.

This month is "Dog's Eye View". So that leaves me wondering what to do. I'm not a dog owner, so imagination is key. As I was going for a walk, I saw a fire hydrant. Instantly it clicked, with an image of Rush's album Signals. Of course! How much more dog is that!

But it had to be different. Dogs have a different perspective. So I put on the wide angle lens and went out to find a hydrant with the right background and feel. This is one I found after shooting a few. For each shot (and hydrant), I put the camera on the ground and shot up to it. Many shots were throw away because I was guessing the angle.

Manual Mode
Aperture: f4
ISO: 200
Lens: Nikkor 16-35mm f4 G ED VR
Focal Length: 16 mm
Shutter: 0.002s (1/500)

My Favourite Headache

2011-10-27T20:52:00.000-04:00

Halloween time again. My girlfriend showed me these really neat candle holders from PartyLite. They are skeletons, and the candle goes behind their head to illuminate the face. I got this guy and a lady skeleton (you can tell, because she has earrings).

I love the way it looks like he is holding his head separate from his body. To me he is saying "oh, my aching head!"

This is more of a quick snap to get something. I should really make an effort to get an better shot. Before Halloween is over at least....

Manual Mode
Aperture: f1.4
ISO: 1600
Lens: Nikkor AF 85mm f1.4G
Focal Length: 85 mm
Shutter: 0.008s (1/125)

Knotted

2011-10-24T18:45:00.000-04:00

After a bit of a slump in my photography, I kicked myself to start shooting again. That meant not only bringing a camera to work, but taking it out for my lunchtime walks. Not only that, but telling myself I need at least 10-15 images while out. And not just random shots; make it count.

Thus this shot. There was various vines and such near a wire fence, and I thought I'd get close for the knot.

I really like the division of land and sky.

Manual Mode
Aperture: f11
ISO: 200
Lens: Nikkor 60mm f2.8D Macro
Focal Length: 60 mm
Shutter: 0.002s (1/500)

Fall Classic

2011-10-22T21:25:00.000-04:00

Every year the cold air moves in, and the leaves change colour from green to oranges, reds and yellows. And every year, it continues to amaze me (and many others, there are always tour buses loaded with visitors to see the colours), and there is a desire to capture an image or two. So after a while, it becomes a challenge to find a different perspective of the same thing. Which is how this image came into being.

These maple leaves were on the ground and I liked the juxtaposition of them.

Manual Mode
Aperture: f11
ISO: 400
Lens: Nikkor 60mm f2.8D Macro
Focal Length: 60 mm
Shutter: 0.008s (1/125)

The sky is crying

2011-09-28T21:39:00.000-04:00

I did mention I love this macro thing on the Fuji X100. Today it rained right near lunch time. I needed to go out to hit the bank, and was going to take an extended journey to get there (I can use the exercise too). I was considering not taking the camera. It was grey, bleak and wet. But my inner voice said to take it along, so I did.

At a point I saw the water droplets on the leaves of the sumac trees, and decided now was a good time for that macro feature. I shot a bunch of angles. In Lightroom, a little creative cropping and sharpening yielded this image.

The addage holds true. Always carry a camera. You just never know what you're going to get.

Manual Mode
Aperture: f8
ISO: 200
Lens: X100 23mm
Focal Length: 23 mm
Shutter: 0.0166s (1/60)

Orange macro

2011-09-26T20:08:00.000-04:00

When last in Dundas, I went for a walk along the nature paths. I really like walking in the woods around the area. A large area around the escarpment is conservation area, and paths are everywhere.

I took my Fuji X100, with me on this trip, as I mentioned previously. As I was wandering along, I was stunned by these bight orange mushrooms on a mossy log. I've never seen anything like it. I was trying to get the best shot; the best angle. nothing really worked. Then I remembered, there is a macro function on this camera! I quickly changed over to it. And once again, I found a new love for this camera.With the macro, I came up with this picture.

The camera just amazes me on its ability, for such a little, single focus thing. My SLR with its macro lens would have required a tripod and longer exposure.

Manual Mode
Aperture: f5.6
ISO: 800
Lens: X100 23mm
Focal Length: 23 mm
Shutter: 0.0166s (1/60)

Intertwind

2011-09-08T16:14:00.002-04:00

On a recent trip to Edmonton, I broke down and bought a FujiFilm X100 camera. I have been looking for some sort of light-weight camera to have other than the big D700 and lens I typically have. The point-and-shoot options weren't doing it for me, as I still like the ability to manually adjust aperture and shutter speed on the fly, and to have a viewfinder. So any small camera where I have to hold it at arms length to see the shot just didn't work.

And along comes this camera. After some musing, the no Provincial Sales Tax (a combined 13% in Ontario, only 7% GST in Alberta) sealed the deal.

After a bit of use, I must say, I really like the camera. It has its quirks and differences from my typical Nikon SLR, but its very nice. And the pictures are really great too. There have been some who don't like it. One well-known photographer went on a 20 minute diatribe about why its no good. Sadly, that rant made me lose all credibility with me. Okay, you don't like it, fair enough. Just say so and move on. No need to carry on about it. Everyone has their own style and needs. Just because they don't match yours, doesn't mean its wrong.

But I digress....On one walk I took the X100 and saw these now dead trees. With the clouds in the background made a neat image, and it called out to be a black and white image.

After a few shots, I looked to my right to see a deer crossing the path. This is where no matter what camera I had would have cause the same problem. The 35mm equivalent focal fixed focal length made it a pointless shot. Even if I had my SLR, I most likely would have had a short lens as well.

Manual Mode
Aperture: f11
ISO: 200
Lens: X100 23mm
Focal Length: 23 mm
Shutter: 0.008s (1/125)

Four years on

2011-09-06T13:53:00.004-04:00

I happened to be looking for a past photo in this blog to find that this has been going for four years now. Wow. There are 343 posts in that time frame, so well over 350 photos shared (because some had multiple photos).

So, in celebration, some fireworks!

This was taken at a fireworks competition in Gatineau, Québec. Over a number of weeks, countries put on a display to music. While visible (and heard) from all over, being at the park where it is held means hearing the music that accompanies it. Getting there somewhat early is also mandatory to get a spot where trees are not going to obscure the view. On this particular night, Canada was putting on the show, and the theme was 75 years of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC). All music was from TV and radio shows over the years.

The trick to photographing fireworks is timing, long-ish shutter speeds and a tripod. I set the shutter to "bulb" and used a cable release to determine the length of the exposure. The trick is also to keep the shutter open at the right time, and leave it open long enough to get a decent shot, but not so long as to over expose the light trails. And the beauty of digital, is that one can adjust settings, focus point and composition as the display goes on to ensure some good shots are made.

Other considerations include a low ISO, and as I was using a lens with vibration reduction (image stabilization on Canon cameras), I turned it off.

This shot is one image. No Photoshop trickery. Just some minor adjustments in Lightroom.

Manual Mode
Aperture: f4
ISO: 200
Lens: Nikkor 16-35mm f4 G ED VR
Focal Length: 22 mm
Shutter: 6.9s

Jude

2011-08-19T19:43:00.002-04:00

Sometimes a simple thing can be incredibly striking.

When I was in London, I went to the Imperial War Museum. I am somewhat of a history/war buff, so I looked forward to the visit. During the visit, in the WWII section, was a small display of The Holocaust. Much of the typical pictures. Included was some items retrieved by the allied forces as they moved in Germany. This simple Star of David was one. A simple, yet very poignant thing. It was worn by all Jews in Germany.

But more striking, and bringing it all home, was the letter below it. It was a reproduction to preserve the original. It is a letter home to a soldiers loved ones on what he saw. What emotions followed? Sadness and anger, and disbelief that this kind of thing could happen.

I had the opportunity to watch Band of Brothers. The American Airborne that were one of the first to walk into a concentration camp. My friend Rick put it best after watching the episode. Its like you've been run over by a truck. Repeatedly. I can't imagine the impression the first eyes laid upon such a site. These artifacts, brought that episode to my mind.

Click on it to get a larger image, to read the text.

Manual Mode (both photos)
Aperture: f2.8
ISO: 6400
Lens: Nikkor 24-70mm 2.8G ED
Focal Length: 35 and 29 mm
Shutter: 0.0333 (1/30)

Selection agony

2011-08-15T22:43:00.003-04:00

When most people travel, they spend time deciding on clothes to bring. Will it be sunny? Will it be cold? Hot? Rainy? How often for any of these selections? How many pairs shoes to bring?

I don't. Clothes? How many days am I away? That many underwear, sock and shirts, and a couple pairs of pants. Done in 10 minutes maximum.

I spend a ridiculous amount of time selecting the lenses I should bring. What am I expecting to see? Do I need the long lens? Wide angle? Can I get a way with just one or two? Should I bring primes? What if..... and so on. Such was my dilemma when I went to England in May. I spent a lot of time choosing lenses. And then camera bags, until I bought a new one (and almost a new lens). I mused about, but in the end brought, my wide angle 16-35. I just knew I'd be seeing big classic structures like Westminster Abbey.

It was such an occasion when we came upon the Princess Diana fountain in Hyde Park. I had heard of it, and when we found it while wandering in the park, it was great to see it for real. As the official information reads:

The fountain was built with the best materials, talent and technology. It contains 545 pieces of Cornish granite - each shaped by the latest computer-controlled machinery and pieced together using traditional skills.

The design aims to reflect Diana's life, water flows from the highest point in two directions as it cascades, swirls and bubbles before meeting in a calm pool at the bottom. The water is constantly being refreshed and is drawn from London's water table.

The Memorial also symbolises Diana's quality and openness. There are three bridges where you can cross the water and go right to the heart of the fountain. We hope visitors will feel at home when they visit this special place.

Its a nice piece, and to get it all in, I was happy to have the wide angle lens with me, as I could barely fit it in at the widest part of the zoom. I have a full-frame camera, so I was glad to have that full 16mm at hand.

There are a number of interesting bits in it, but this gives the best impression of its size. Click on the image for a larger view.

Manual Mode
Aperture: f8
ISO: 200
Lens: Nikkor 16-35mm f4 G ED VR
Focal Length: 16 mm
Shutter: 0.004s (1/250)

Om nom nom

2011-08-07T14:05:00.002-04:00

While my family was visiting, we broke out a really cool bubble maker, that put little bubbles into big ones. The kids (big and little) really liked it. Camera in hand, I caught this picture of my niece trying to gobble up the bubbles as they floated to the ground.

Manual Mode
Aperture: f2.8
ISO: 800
Lens: Nikkor 24-70mm 2.8G ED
Focal Length: 70 mm
Shutter: 0.008 (1/125)

Peeling away

2011-07-19T22:15:00.002-04:00

I went to the railway museum in Delson, Québec. Its a fantastic museum. Lots of railway history. Of which, is a large selection of rolling stock. And, being outside, subject to the elements. This hopper was of interest. Generally speaking, I was looking for interesting pictures, rather than the usual 3/4 angle of the locomotive or box car. Given the opportunity, I could do a whole day of rusted and well-weathered rolling stock.

This particular hopper had some great rust and flecking paint. I didn't have a macro lens with me, and my Dad, son and nephew would have gotten tired very quickly of me shooting one car. So I sufficed to a few shots. I like this one with the circular pattern to the paint flecks.

Manual Mode
Aperture: f4
ISO: 200
Lens: Nikkor 16-35mm f4 G ED VR
Focal Length: 35 mm
Shutter: 0.008s (1/125)

Look left

2011-07-02T23:38:00.002-04:00

At the end of May I was in London for 10 days. It was fabulous, and the first time I've been there, or in the UK at all. So a lot of my pictures ended up being of a very touristy nature, rather of any real artistic or unique aspect. A few do stand out.

Of course, compared to Canada, everyone in England drives on the "wrong" side of the road, that is, the left side. I had heard of signs painted on the road indicating which way to look when crossing the street, presumably because of all the North American tourists, looking the "wrong" way before crossing the street. I was also amused that this, and even "look right" indicators were everywhere.

So of course, being the tourist, I had to have a picture.

This was more of a snapshot, before crossing the street, and I came very close to deleting it. Its crooked. I wanted it straight on, with a view of the other side of the road. But looking at it a few more times, I like it, and I think the feet of another pedestrian, that happen to have been there, makes the image that much more interesting.

I had a blast in London, and would go back in a heartbeat.

Manual Mode
Aperture: f2.8
ISO: 200
Lens: Nikkor 24-70mm 2.8G ED
Focal Length: 24 mm
Shutter: 0.008 (1/125)

New Neighbours

2011-07-01T00:59:00.003-04:00

A few weeks ago, I was in my backyard and looked to my neighbour's house, to see a robin's nest tucked on the drainpipe under the roof. Of course, my first thought was getting some pictures of the babies when they hatched. Their location was dark, and I thought a lot about how I could light it without blinding the birds.

Flash forward a few weeks. While I was cutting the grass, my neighbour points at the mommy robin feeding the chicks. Cutting the grass becomes secondary, as I run in the house to grab my 70-200 and 1.4 teleconverter to get some sort of shot. While waiting for mom to come back, my neighbour offers me a step ladder. Perfect. Quite literally, a bird's eye view. Patience paid off, when mom came back and I managed to get a number of shots, including this one.

Knowing the camera and its mulitude of settings paid off, because of the poor lighting location. Shooting in manual mode, I adjusted everything, including the EV value to -1 stop to make the meter dead on.

Manual Mode
Aperture: f4
ISO: 1600
Lens: Nikkor 70-200mm 2.8G ED VR with Nikon 1.4x teleconverter
Focal Length: 280 mm
Shutter: .004s (1/250)

Artistic change

2011-06-17T14:20:00.002-04:00

I seem to have hit a slump. I don't seem to find things interesting enough to photograph. I see the same things over and over. I may need a change of venue, or some other catalyst to get back into it.

Enter the iPad, and a new photo editing software. I read about it in a blog post, and thought I'd give it a try. So I made a point of taking the camera on my lunch walk. I was nearing the end of the walk with nary an interesting image, when I saw this puffy plant. I thought it might be good in black and white. I played with some settings in the app and came out with this image. I am pleased. In many ways, its what I envisioned when I took it. Not exactly, but close.

I'm not one for using Photoshop or other image editing programs. I do minimal adjusting in Lightroom and that's it. I just don't have the time to learn and fiddle with images. This was easy to do, and I like the results. Maybe this is the start of an artistic flare to some pictures. We'll see.

Manual Mode
Aperture: f5.6
ISO: 200
Lens: Nikkor AF 85mm f1.4G
Focal Length: 85 mm
Shutter: 0.0001s (1/1000)