Zoom Rack Photography in New York

Earlier this year, my good friend and fellow photographer John Downey (John A Downey II Photography) introduced me to a photographic technique I decided to play with during a trip to New York over the weekend.  I don’t know that the technique has a name, so I gave it one – zoom rack photography.  The technique is conceptually pretty simple, but it takes practice to get it right.

The technique involves composing a photograph using a zoom lens at a short focal length then simultaneously “racking” the zoom to a longer focal length while depressing the shutter button.  Easy stuff, right?  But wait, there is more.  The real challenge of executing this shot is a sufficiently long shutter speed that allows you to rack the zoom from a short to long focal length.  My experience with this in NY led me to conclude that the optimum shutter speed was 1/4 of a second.  To get a decent exposure at this shutter speed generally means lowering your ISO and increasing your f-stop (high number/small aperture).  If you are shooting in bright sunlight, even your lowest ISO and highest f-stop may not get you to 1/4 second shutter speed.  In bright light, you may have to add a neutral density filter.

The next challenge is stabilizing the camera.  The amount of stabilization will depend on the level of clarity you are trying to achieve.  This type of photography intentionally blurs most of the photograph.  However, you can increase the clarity by good technique (bracing your arms), steadying the camera against a solid object (like a lamp post) or using a tripod.  All the photographs in this post were hand held or braced against something solid.

One of your first impressions of this form of photography may be that it looks somewhat like photography made with a Lensbaby.  I would not disagree but would point out two aspects that distinguish this approach.  First, because of the longer exposure time, objects in motion are further accentuated with motion – like the cyclist in the previous shot.  Second, you get some unique effects I can’t as easily account for such as in the following photograph.  I don’t think I could recreate this photograph using a Lensbaby.  The smoky, ghostly steaks coming off the buildings while keeping most of the shot in relatively good focus is not something the Lensbaby is built for.

Like any photographic technique, this is certainly one that can be overdone.  However, used judiciously and in compositions amenable to the technique, you can add another fun tool to your kit.  Later this week, I will post more shots from NY using this technique – just to be sure I have overdone it.

Have fun, and go make some great photography.

Craig

DC Cherry Blossoms with Lensbaby Macro–Black and White

This is the second and final post of Lensbaby macro photography featuring the DC Cherry Blossoms. In my last post, I featured a set of color shots.  Here, the group is entirely black and white.

I’m in a bit of a rush today, so I will let the photographs speak for themselves.  Enjoy.

Have fun and go make some great photography.

Craig

DC Cherry Blossoms with Lensbaby Macro

Pretty soon I will be shooting the hangover, or aftermath of the cherry blossoms.  For the moment however, I still have some great fresh shots to share.  The photos featured here today add another layer of creativity to the Lensbaby by the application of a macro lens.  It is more like a macro adapter with a screw on lens that approximates macro, but regardless of the “how” shooting with it is a great deal of fun.

The difficulty in getting these shots comes from the constant winds that have stopped only briefly since the cherry blossom began to bloom.  The bottom line is that it took patience to get these shots.  It also took a lot of exposures – I have many wasted shots thanks to the wind.

In the next days I will post another set of macro photography processed in black and white.  I would post them here, but I think these work best as a set of color, and a set of black and white viewed separately.

One of the things I had not noticed before but occurred to me while shooting the cherry blossoms this year, is that all cherry blossoms are not created equal.  Specifically, some of the trees produce brilliant white blossoms with hints of pink or purple.  Others produce soft to bright pink blossoms.  I’m sure there is an explanation, but I don’t have it.

Have fun and go make some great photography.

Craig

Washington DC Cherry Blossoms, Black and White Through a Lensbaby

My continuing pursuit to shoot the hell out of the Washington DC Cherry Blossoms continues.  I have several groups of photos stacked up based on some logical groupings.  This post features the Cherry Blossoms in Black and white seen through the Lensbaby Composer.

I have to tell you that I am having a great time shooting the Cherry Blossoms this year.  With the cooler weather we are experiencing, the crowds are a bit thinner than recent years making the photography a little easier albeit a bit less comfortable when shooting.

It has also been a real treat shooting with my good friend John who is on a short visit to DC.  I highly recommend you visit John A Downey II Photography to see some of the fantastic work John is doing.  Last night, John came over for dinner and we did what we normally do – talk photography.  It would probably bore the hell out of most people, but we enjoy geeking out about photography.

Part of the conversation wound around the idea of submitting our cherry blossom photography to a contest.  John has plans to do so, and he was doing his best to convince me that I should do the same.  I don’t plan on doing so.  I am not a fan of photo competitions other than viewing the work of others.  I don’t have a need for the recognition that comes from succeeding in a competition and find many of these contests little more than a scheme for someone else to make money off my work – after having to pay to enter the competition.  It doesn’t seem like an equitable relationship and therefore I stand clear of competitions.

I am quite satisfied with the recognition I get from you – all the people that continue to return to my humble blog and send your friends my way.  I shoot because of the inherent joy of doing so, and I quite enjoy your feedback.  I also enjoy the process of photography, from planning to shoot, making the photography, post processing, and writing about it.  I find inherent value and satisfaction in the process.

This evening, John and I plan on visiting the cherry blossoms for some sunset lighting.  So far, everything has been shot on the early side of the day.  I am looking forward to the new perspective brought by dusk.

Have fun, and go make some great photography.

Craig

Black and White HDR Photography with a Lensbaby

A while back I had the idea of combining several of the latest technologies at my disposal to create a unique photograph.  The title photograph in this post is the result.  It combines HDR photography, a Lensbaby, and processing the photograph in black and white.  Any one of these approaches standing on their own is common place.  If you were to Google any one of these, you would get millions of results.  However, using HDR for b/w photography is not as common as color photography, and applying HDR to Lensbaby photography is even more rare.

While I am confident that plenty of people have combined the three elements, it is not a regular practice.  So here you go – an example of a unique combination of technology in photography.  The point of this exercise is to demonstrate just one of the endless combinations we have at our disposal to express our creativity.  There remains countless other possibilities for us to experiment with photography and our creativity. 

If you ever feel you are hitting a rut, just explore.

Have fun and go make some great photography.

Craig

My New Project – Aerial Photography from an R/C Helicopter

This is the first post of what I believe will be a long series as I pursue a new objective of aerial photography taken from a radio controlled (RC) helicopter.  One of the beautiful things about photography is the endless number of challenges to take on with just a bit of imagination.  As I have observed some of the new and creative avenues being explored by the current crop of photographers, I have noticed some terrific technical and artistic approaches to aerial photography – particularly in that “no mans land” just above the ground up to around 100 feet.  This is the area that is very difficult to shoot from traditional platforms (real helicopters, booms, cranes, etc.).  The RC helicopter is a versatile, promising, and challenging platform for this unique altitude and perspective.

So this is my first installment on what appears to be a lengthy (and expensive) path toward aerial RC helicopter photography.  To begin my journey, I went to the local hobby shop and explained my objective and the fact that I was starting from an experience level of precisely one degree above nil.  I have flown real helicopters, but I realize this has little bearing other than knowing a helicopter goes up, down, left, right, and rotates around it’s central axis.  The gentleman at the hobby shop listened to my goal of attaching a 6 pound load to a three axis gyro stabilized mount attached to a very substantial RC helicopter.  He then outlined the progression of helicopters I would need to master to achieve my goal.

The first step in this process is the tiny, 6” long helicopter you see in these photographs.  I decided to take the opportunity to do some lensbaby – macro photography with my new toy.  This helicopter is truly small and intended for indoor flight only.  Any slight wind, even that of an air-conditioning vent, can send it into a tizzy.  For the last couple of weeks, I have been flying this mosquito around my living room and practicing controlled landing on various pieces of furniture.  My skills have improved rapidly, and I look forward to the next upgrade in a couple of weeks.

I look forward to reporting on my progress toward mounting a Canon 5D MKII on an RC helicopter while completely encased in bubble wrap!

Have fun, and go make some great photography.

Craig

Fun Photography on Memorial Day Weekend

Photographers have a tendency to focus their work on things they find important, beautiful, tell a story, make money, or fit within some framework of photography that is consistent across their body of work.  This makes very good sense – it is good to work within themes and bring focus to your work.  However, sometimes it is a good thing to just have some fun with your photography.  Act like a child, and just play.

The photographs in this post have little in common other than I took these shots while just having fun on Memorial Day weekend.  The first two shots are something fun anyone can do with a tripod.  There are plenty of photographers who have used this technique.  It is a well developed area called light painting and can be very creative.  These shots are a much less creative in comparison to the really unique work of light painting…my daughter and her friends just having fun with sparklers.  It is amazing how a box of sparklers can still entertain a group of 20-somethings!

The next two shots resulted from some play with my Lensbaby coupled with the macro lens.  The lens baby system is really designed for play and experimentation.  With all the interchangeable bits and pieces, the possibilities are endless.  In this case the result was an apparent ridiculously short depth of field.

Have FUN, and go make some great photography.
Craig

Another Thought on Triangles – Composition and the Sandwich Rule According to the Sporkful

As a student of photography and a student of life, after just posting my last introductory post on triangles in photography (Triangles in Photography – Abu Dhabi Corniche), I came across an interesting connection to food.  In the realm of photography, we are aware of the relationship of triangles, the rule of thirds, the golden rule of thirds, the golden triangle rule, etc.  All of these have “3” as a common concept (three points and sides to a triangle for instance).  My discovery, and motivation for this post is the sandwich.

As a point of context, I am a podcast addict.  My full time job requires me to travel…a lot….over 50 percent of my life is spent away from home and outside the U.S.  I rely on podcasts for news, entertainment, and connection to what is going on at home as well as furthering my knowledge of things for which I am passionate (such as photography).  One of the podcasts on my playlist is the Sporkfull.  The hosts of this engaging podcast deconstruct the consumption of food to a level of detail that is highly entertaining and oddly familiar.  For example, where in the construction of a hamburger is the best place to position the cheese?  This is something you may have considered in an odd moment of lapse in conversation between hamburger bites, but not necessarily considered with full academic rigor.  These guys take it to a crazy, and thoroughly fun level of analysis.

So here is my connection to the good guys at Sporkfull.  The episode I just enjoyed focused a large segment on how to cut a sandwich.  Growing up in Michigan, I was accustomed to the perpendicular cut.  Only after meeting and marrying my wonderful bride did I learn the joys of a diagonally cut sandwich (two triangles!).  After being presented with this alternative, I was completely sold…why?…I have no clue.  So the Sporkfull episode continued into the delicious debate of square cut vs. diagonal cut to help me understand.  The argument for diagonal cut clearly won the day.

I will admit there is little connection to the use of triangles in photographic composition and how you cut your sandwich, but I was instantly drawn to the potential of an even tenuous relationship.  My attraction to the connection lies in our apparently natural psychological and perceptual attraction to thirds and triangles.  I don’t claim to understand it, but promise to continue my pursuit of understanding this phenomenon.  I also promise to report back on my findings as I continue to discover.

While rambling about sandwiches and triangles, I thought it might be a good idea to include a few more photographs demonstrating the way the idea of concepts adds to photographic composition.

So the real question that must follow from this discussion, is “what does it mean when you cut your hamburger in half?”  I’m sure that Dan Pashman and Mark Garrison at the Sporkful have the answer!  If you enjoy food, you will enjoy their podcast.
Have fun, and go make some great photography!
Craig

Last Game of the Season

I may have mentioned it before, but this post is evidence that I am way behind on my post processing.  The photographs featured in this entry are from the Washington Nationals last game of the 2009 season…September 30th.

I admit to being not much of a dedicated baseball fan, but going to the park, any park, is always a great deal of fun.  This night was no exception.  So here is the setup – It is the Nationals last game of the season.  The season is already decided.  The Nationals will finish with an unimpressive record and will be watching post-season play on television rather than from the dugout.

At best, the stadium is 50% full.  Even some of the vendors have decided to call it a season and pack up.  Clearly my introduction is not setting the stage for an entertaining or exciting night.  Other than a run in the first inning, the Nationals fall behind and stay there the entire game.  Many in our group decide to leave, the despair of a miserable season clearly evident in their sagging body language.

However, the uncommitted in the group later learn they have missed a dramatic finish to a forgettable season.  Suddenly, without warning, the ninth inning transforms the shear boredom of the last few hours into one of those moments when everyone is on the edge of their seats.

It is the bottom of the 9th, 2 outs, bases loaded, the count is 3 balls and 2 strikes, and the Nationals are down by three.  The perfect setup for great sporting drama.  Had it been a playoff game or possibly the 7th game in the world series, the tension would have been unbearable.  Fortunately for our nerves, it was just a small spark at the end of an unremarkable season.
And of course, just to keep a few folks coming back next season like the one good drive hit by a golfer, the season ends with a grand slam, and the Nationals go to the off season with their chins a bit higher.
Have fun and go make some great photography!
Craig

Bridge Spot – Collection 1

My son Ryan is an aspiring skateboarder.  One day in a moment of brilliance I recognized the obvious – why not spend some time with Ryan and his friends shooting some skateboarders.  Just this week, we made it happen.


I had a small bit of trepidation about this.  Although I knew Ryan and his friend Will were completely onboard, I wondered how the other boarders would react.  I knew that to get the shots I wanted, I would have to get completely up in their faces…and possibly be ready to dodge an errant board.


I guessed right about dodging the occasional unguided missile, but my fears about being well received by the skate crowd were quickly dismissed.  After some quick introductions and a few shots, it shortly became a matter of competition for “air time” in both senses of the word.  “Dude, check this out.”  “Hey, over here!”  Their enthusiasm made my shooting that much more fun.


First a couple of photogeek points.  The shots in this collection were taken with three lenses; 70-200 f2.8L IS, 17-40 f4L, and a Lensbaby 3G.  The lighting for these shots was all natural (no flash) and was a bit of a challenge.  First, the shots were taken about two hours before sunset, and second, the Bridge Spot is a set of ramps and other props built completely by the boarders under a I-395 overpass in Washington DC.  Less than optimal lighting.


Because I was shooting under an overpass, I lost a good deal of the increasingly limited light, but even more challenging was the big difference in the light under the overpass and the ambient light outside overpass that frequently became the background in a shot.  In other words, I was dealing with subjects in low light and a bright background – a tremendous range of light.


About the processing.  As I was deciding how to process these photographs I had two major considerations; 1) I wanted to maintain or enhance the urban grunge feel of the location and the subject matter, and 2) I had to deal with the difficult lighting situation.  It did not take long to conclude that processing the photographs as single image virtual high dynamic range (HDR) in Photomatix was the way to go.  This allowed me to address both constraints simultaneously.


On the other hand, some of the shots I judged could maintain the feel I was looking for as black and white.  I was pleased with both approaches, but when viewed as a whole, the HDR shots and the black and white did not feel consistent.  For this reason, I will make two posts – one for each approach and let you be the judge.  This post features the HDR, and a second soon to be published entry will present a cohesive collection of the black and white.


Segregating the posts speaks to the issue of how a collection of photos works as a whole.  In the case of Bridge Spot skateboarding, the subject matter is clearly the same.  But the look and feel of the two processing methods is very different and my opinion breaks the cohesiveness.  I would be interested in your thoughts once you see both posts.


 

   


 
I hope you enjoyed these photographs and learned something along the way.  Stand by for the black and white collection.
Go make some great photography!
Craig