achat microsoft visio adobe indesign cs4 kaufen achat autocad 2010 office 2007 günstig kaufen windows 7 günstig bestellen acheter adobe premiere pro cs4 acheter indesign cs3 preis windows 7 prof illustrator cs4 preis outlook pas cher sql server preis acheter windows vista ultimate office 2003 vollversion download telecharger windows 7 ultimate final acheter windows 7 ultimate 64 microsoft access 2007 preis sony vegas download deutsch microsoft outlook 2007 günstig windows 7 premium preise cubase vollversion download microsoft outlook 2007 vollversion achat windows vista 64 bits windows 7 günstigster preis acheter photoshop moins cher prix visual studio team system microsoft office 2003 vollversion cs4 pas cher photoshop cs4 download deutsch windows 7 preise oem preis corel draw x4 prix matlab 2009 acheter photoshop element 6 windows 7 professional vollversion 64 bit office 2003 kaufen gebraucht frontpage kaufen microsoft office 2007 preis achat illustrator cs2 prix de 3ds max acheter microsoft excel acheter outlook 2010 windows 7 preistrend acheter microsoft access adobe photoshop cs5 acheter acheter 3ds max kaspersky internet security 2010 preis acheter office 2007 pme telecharger adobe cs3 prix windows 2008 prix windows 7 ultimate oem telecharger office 2007 full autocad mechanical 2010 kaufen prix de indesign prix sql serveur 2005 microsoft word preis preis windows 7 home premium family pack dragon naturally speaking preis acheter windows 7 oem office 2003 preis acheter cubase essential 5 prix adobe after effects cs5 acheter autocad 2009 achat microsoft autoroute 2010 quarkxpress 8 preis microsoft windows xp kaufen preis windows 7 home premium inventor preisliste prix cs4 cs5 kaufen microsoft excel vollversion download microsoft office kauf prix adobe premiere elements 8 windows 7 home vollversion achat microsoft windows xp prix powerpoint 2007 frontpage 2003 preis solidworks 2009 kaufen acheter windows xp pro acheter office 2000 prix photoshop illustrator prix preis windows 2008 server archicad 13 prix maya kaufmann prix pinnacle studio prix autocad mechanical prix solidworks 2010 premium preisvergleich nero 9 reloaded adobe photoshop elements 8 prix office 2010 billig outlook 2007 preis dreamweaver cs4 preis photoshop cs5 download deutsch acheter adobe cs2 telecharger photoshop filtre preis microsoft office 2010 maya prix nero download deutsch prix norton 360 3ds max 2010 kaufen windows 7 professional billiger achat office 2007 etudiant microsoft powerpoint preis cubase 4 preis acheter windows xp sp3 windows 7 professionnel pas cher prix windows 7 maj windows 2003 enterprise preis acrobat prix lightroom 2 preise preis adobe cs3 windows vista telecharger indesign preis windows 7 preistabelle powerpoint 2007 kaufen achat office 2008 mac windows 7 prix licence telecharger windows seven fr achat sql server acheter illustrator cs3 microsoft windows 7 kaufen acheter microsoft office 2010 windows vista prix windows vista francais autocad download deutsch dreamweaver cs3 kaufen adobe indesign cs5 kaufen cubase achat acheter solidworks 2009 adobe lightroom 2 prix windows vista vollversion downloaden corel draw günstig prix autocad lt 2010 telecharger autocad francais adobe dreamweaver kaufen acheter pinnacle studio 9 achat windows 7 suisse acheter omnipage acheter visual studio 2008 professional edition adobe premiere prix autodesk maya kaufen prix microsoft office 2007 pro solidworks preisliste preis autocad lt preis windows xp acheter windows 7 ultimate autocad 2009 preis pcanywhere download deutsch prix windows 7 canada outlook 2003 telecharger adobe cs4 master collection preisvergleich office 2007 preis student preis omnipage preise autocad lt flash cs4 telechargement acheter windows 7 entreprise adobe flash cs3 preis achat dreamweaver 8 preis windows 7 home adobe cs5 design premium fr preis vmware workstation acheter autodesk inventor prix windows 7 etudiant acheter windows xp pro 64 bits acheter word 2003 acheter frontpage 2003 windows 7 home premium günstig preis adobe photoshop cs5 microsoft works kaufen acheter windows seven ultimate adobe audition 1.5 kaufen prix windows xp professional microsoft windows 7 download deutsch telecharger windows vista windows 7 ultimate billiger prix illustrator cs4 windows 7 preise deutschland preis adobe premiere pro cs4 prix de guitar pro 5 prix cubase 4 ms money kaufen acheter premiere pro cs5 achat adobe acrobat 9 prix de photoshop pour mac word 2007 prix prix pcanywhere final cut express prix prix windows vista premium access 2003 prix autodesk inventor professional preis windows 7 preissenkung windows xp professional vollversion download windows 7 premium preis acheter dragon naturally speaking preis matlab windows 7 francais download windows 7 preis student office 2010 vollversion download prix windows 7 64 bits achat windows 7 edition familiale premium acheter adobe photoshop elements acheter microsoft word adobe photoshop cs3 vollversion adobe captivate 4 download prix sony vegas 9 telecharger windows 7 familiale acheter acrobat writer windows 7 starter preisvergleich photoshop prix microsoft word vollversion download windows 7 kaufen preis word 2007 günstig achat windows vista home premium word 2003 vollversion download mathcad download deutsch prix adobe photoshop cs2 windows vista home premium vollversion achat windows 7 professionnel acheter adobe photoshop 7.0 dreamweaver cs3 download deutsch sql server 2008 kaufen acheter adobe dreamweaver cs4 photoshop cs4 vollversion preis indesign cs3 windows 7 professional vollversion preis pinnacle studio 14 prix acheter office 2007 famille windows 7 pro günstig acheter corel draw x4 outlook kaufen download windows 7 64 bit prix windows xp preisvergleich windows xp sp3 prix telecharger microsoft office 2003 fr preis office 2007 basic acheter adobe after effects prix autocad architecture 2009 windows 7 home premium günstig kaufen archicad 13 kaufen preis prix autocad 2010 adobe illustrator preis dreamweaver acheter dreamweaver preise windows 7 preise oem adobe illustrator telechargementz achat sony vegas pro 9 pinnacle studio 14 kaufen acheter windows 7 preis adobe photoshop cs3 telecharger microsoft office 2010 fr adobe fireworks kaufen achat powerpoint kaspersky internet security 2009 kaufen prix kaspersky internet security 3ds max preis acheter photoshop cs3 occasion adobe cs4 francais microsoft project preis windows seven preise autocad architecture 2009 preis acheter windows 2008 photoshop cs4 pas cher achat adobe cs4 autocad 2010 preisliste windows 7 kaufen media markt kaspersky moins cher windows 7 ultimate vollversion deutsch acheter windows 7 moins cher photoshop elements 8 vollversion prix adobe creative suite 4 design premium windows 7 preis schweiz telecharger adobe flash cs3 francais windows 7 home premium oem adobe photoshop elements 8 preisvergleich acheter windows 7 upgrade windows 7 professional kaufen after effects cs4 preis windows 7 prix de vente final cut express preis windows 2008 datacenter preis preis adobe acrobat telecharger dreamweaver cs3 francais windows vista preise preis autocad 2010 autocad electrical 2010 francais acheter autocad 2008 telecharger microsoft office 2007 pro prix windows xp oem acheter vmware workstation 7 corel draw kaufen vollversion powerpoint achat windows 7 discount windows 7 ultimate preis saturn acheter windows xp boite acheter microsoft money 2008 acheter lightroom 2.4 pcanywhere kaufen prix quarkxpress illustrator cs5 preis prix office 2007 standard prix windows xp familiale microsoft visio kaufen adobe photoshop cs4 francais adobe premiere elements 8 kaufen autosketch preis microsoft office 2007 prix windows 7 ultimate kaufpreis adobe photoshop cs3 kaufen photoshop elements vollversion download prix outlook 2007 windows vista ultimate download deutsch prix microsoft windows 7 prix windows seven acheter windows 2008 server preis photoshop cs4 acheter adobe photoshop prix acrobat windows xp pro telecharger adobe illustrator download deutsch acheter cubase mac adobe cs4 preis adobe dreamweaver cs5 prix nero 9 kaufen acheter kaspersky internet security 2010 3 postes visual studio kaufen acheter office 2003 pme sony vegas 9 download deutsch solidworks prix prix adobe audition acheter windows 7 starter edition windows 7 pro vollversion prix microsoft office 2009 windows xp günstig kaufen prix windows 7 pro preis indesign server adobe illustrator cs3 kaufen prix de microsoft project acheter windows 7 3 licences acheter vista oem telecharger norton ghost francais acheter cubase sx3 norton ghost kaufen preis microsoft office 2007 enterprise adobe dreamweaver cs5 vollversion telecharger photoshop cs4 guitar pro 5 vollversion download acheter encarta 2010 adobe lightroom preis acheter windows 7 belgique acheter office 2007 prix adobe indesign cs4 acheter adobe premiere cs3
  

Photography @ Chautauqua

Fireworks over Lake Chautauqua
We were at the Chautauqua Institution over Independence Day, and surprisingly, this was the first time I’d ever really attempted to photograph fireworks. I brought the tripod, and mounted the camera with 70-300mm lens on it. As I was setting it up, a woman nearby asked if I worked for the newspaper. Uh, nope. I just like to pretend I know what I’m doing. I set the lens to manual focus,  took a few test shots, fiddled with the settings until I saw what I liked (above was 2 second exposure at f/7.1, 200 ISO) then sat down and remotely triggered the shutter for a bunch more. At some point I messed with the focus, which blew about 15 shots, but I still ended up with about 25 keepers.
Face painting
John Williams is a face painter and this man is dedicated to his art form. He spent hours each day painting the faces of any kid that was willing to wait in line for it. And he did it all for free. I took a number of pictures one afternoon attempting to capture the process and the interest of the other kids. When my daughter’s friend, Zoe, pictured above, got in line as the light was fading fast, I decided to set up a flash. In this case, I strapped it to a pillar of the porch right behind the artist with my DIY diffuser. I’m really pleased with several of the results.
Playing in a huge flag
One of the other facets of being at Chautauqua on Independence Day was that the flags were out in force. On of the flags was massive, maybe 30×20 feet, and I thought it would make a fun background for the girls to play in.
Sunset Portraits
I tried to make some sunset portraits, practicing earlier work I’d done in the Strobist Lighting 102 series. Since we were on vacation, I didn’t have an umbrella, and didn’t bother attempting it with my DIY diffuser. I also didn’t have a light stand, so I mounted it on my tripod. The hair light is coming from another flash mounted on my paint pole monopod held in place by a voice activated light stand who got a portrait for her troubles. I had brought the paint pole with the intention of putting the camera on it to get high perspectives, but I never saw anything that I felt would benefit from the added height. At least it got used once. Anyway, the thought that comes to my mind with these portraits is that I still need to work on finessing the light rather than using my brute force technique at lighting a subject. This particular portrait would have benefited from a slower shutter speed to bring in more ambient sky light.
Sunrise over Lake Chautauqua
Twice during the week I woke early to attempt to capture sunrise over the lake. I saw great blue herons both times, but only managed to capture a decent shot the first time. My first attempt at a trite sunrise picture was from a dock near Miller Bell Tower, and as such I was pretty much in the water with no foreground interest except for the slightly choppy water. After I was frustrated enough with my attempts, I turned around to leave and saw the sunrise over the lake reflected in these glass doors. I like the composition better than anything else I shot that morning.
Sunrise over Lake Chautauqua

On my second attempt, I was able to capture a much more dramatic sky, and I was more aware to capture some foreground interest. I think I need to edit this one just a little bit to make the sailboat more visible. But for now, I love how the sky looks like it is on fire.
Rainy Day @ Chautauqua Institution

Rainy days at Chautauqua are a lot of fun for me photographically. The lighting is much softer, and people are no longer walking around squinting. As a thunderstorm was in full downpour, I grabbed an umbrella and the camera and went to shoot the crowd at the arts festival that was on-going. I imagined that I’d see people hunched under umbrellas while shopping in tents. I thought it might be a fun shot. I like this one. When I was crouching to get the shot, umbrella close at hand, in the rain-shade of a tree, a woman said to her companions “There’s someone dedicated to getting a shot”. Yup. Sometimes. I dearly love the shot above as a prototypical Chautauqua moment. No where else in my daily life will I see someone riding a bike with a golf umbrella in the rain.
Rain drops

 

Wedding photos

I’ve finally had a chance to see all the photos of Lance and Laura’s wedding. I’ve exchanged a few e-mails with the photographers since then on a couple of different topics, and I requested permission to reproduce a couple of their images in a follow-up blog post. They requested that I not use them in that way, that they were for the bride and groom, and honestly they’d prefer to not have their work all over someone else’s blog. I think technically I could still use a couple under fair-use, but since I asked, and they declined, I’ll have to speak in generalities. So, this is going to be an awkward post about photography without photographs. But for family or friends that see this, I’m not critiquing Lance or Laura’s choice of photographer. Many of these critiques fall under “style” and this couple definitely are not my style. If Lance and Laura are happy with their photos for the price paid, then excellent. My own wedding photographs (many years ago) are horrible, but we got what we paid for–a recently turned pro friend who needed practice (badly).

  • First of all, they completely abused the dutch tilt. The whole idea with tilting the frame is to throw it a little off-balance, to convey motion, or unease. If it were used to show a flower girl running around guests at the reception, that would be perfect. Bride and groom at the altar? Uh, not so much. That’s what I mean by abused–fully 70% of their delivered photos made use of this technique. And of those, nearly all of them were badly done. Personally, I would recrop most of them if possible.  Here’s an example (not from the wedding) of a poorly done dutch tilt–there was no reason to tilt the frame.
  • I mentioned that they were using external on-camera flash that seemed to be bouncing off of nowhere. Looking at the results, I can see some bounced light in the bride’s preparation (small room with white ceilings, ideal use of the technique). But in the formals in the sanctuary, there is nothing but incandescent ambient lighting hitting the subjects.
  • Some of the formal portraits would have benefited from off-camera flash.  To their benefit, the formals were shot in the chancel of the church with pretty powerful overhead floods that provided pretty decent lighting for most of the shots. However, if subjects were just a little too far back and the light was feathering off, they were a bit too shadowy for my tastes. The unfortunate perfect example is the formal picture of the bride and groom–3200 ISO, 1/80 and f/6.3 and were pretty dark under the eyes, no catch lights and very soft focus. Oh and heavy vignetting.
  • Almost all of the formals have been vignetted pretty heavily in Photoshop. Many of the rest have a little vignette but it isn’t as heavy handed as the portraits. I don’t care for the vignette personally, but at least it was used appropriately.
  • They benefited greatly by having two shooters throughout the event. They really did an excellent job of capturing the breadth of the wedding party and guests. They did a very nice job of capturing details and special moments that I think would have been more challenging with a lone photographer.
  • My only other complaint is that it took them a month to post-process the files (difference between file modified date and exif picture taken date). I understand that they had a card fail during post, and I think that delayed their processing as they tried to recover the lost data. But still, a month seems like a long time.

Finally, I’ll share a few of the pictures that they took of me and my family. There’s no exif copyright data so that I can protect them from my scathing not-even-a-pro-photog-never-shot-a-wedding-one-man’s opinion. In the pictures they took of us, you can see a couple of my complaints.

 

Chautauqua 2010

This year our vacation at the Chautauqua Institution was the second hottest in memory (for us). As a result, my memory of the week is a bit foggy, seeing as how my brain as a bit baked from the experience. Pictures have been posted to Flickr. I promise to write more later.

 

Comfest 2010

Yeah, I took a bunch of pictures at Comfest 2010. I even had great narratives to tell about a lot of them. I was reasonably pleased with the set, despite some technical challenges with a new camera. One of the narratives was about how there were lots and lots of photographers at Comfest. I walked away from shooting a band after I took this shot.

I’m not a competitive person, and I didn’t want to be the third photog distracting the crowd. So I walked away and deleted the few shots I’d already taken. Not. Worth. It.

But that didn’t stop me from shooting a number of other bands. And other details. And experimenting.

I introduced myself to Rob, another photographer I’d seen at events like this in the past. We chatted a bit, exchanged cards, then went our separate ways. He’s shooting “for himself” just like me, with a bit of side income to help fund the gear.

After I’d finished all my post processing and uploading, I went to send Rob an e-mail, and thought I’d see if he had posted pictures from Comfest. He has. And his photography is amazing. In fact, if you haven’t gone to look at my Flickr set, don’t bother. You’ll get a much better taste of Comfest, and of the performers, from his set. His pictures don’t need narratives–they speak for themselves.

Tonight I had my ego rightfully smacked down a bit. I have a long way to go. Don’t worry about me though. My ego always seems to return to its slightly-larger-than-nomal size.