The Smirkonian Sightseer

Vision is Better - eBook bundle

BUY THE VISION IS BETTER BUNDLE FOR $10 NEW EBOOK / BUNDLE ARTICLES, TUTORIALS, ESSAYS, AND PHOTOGRAPHS BY DAVID DUCHEMIN The VISION IS BETTER series is an epic collection of articles, essays, and tutorials about the photographic life. David duChemin shares his insights on the how and why of photography, visual storytelling, and life lessons learned along the way. Today we're announcing Vision is Better 3: Become a Better Photographer, Make Better Photographs—the latest and largest of this series! Curating the best from his blog, David has put together a fine collection of his written and photographic work (including larger images and new articles). Here's a sneak peak inside the new eBook: Talk about bang for your buck: these three eBooks combined total 300 pages! EachVision is Better volume gives readers a no-holds-barred vantage point of the adventures and creative life of David duChemin, and provides fresh ideas for making the most of your own photographic journey. Note: Volumes 1 & 2 have brand new covers, and the layouts have been updated to display as full spreads instead of the previous two-page view. Purchase Note: We've locked in the savings! No discount code is needed to purchase this 3-eBook bundle for just $10 (that's a savings of $5). Buy Vision is Better 3 Already have the first two? No problem! Add Vision is Better 3 to your digital library for just $5. This eBook gives you offline access to 145 pages of beautifully laid out material, 52 articles—including two previously unpublished articles: "Don’t Get Ahead of the Muse" and "Simplify, Simplify"—and expanded “Postcards from…” features. BUY VISION IS BETTER 3 FOR $5

iPhone view of Launceston

Here are three photos taken today of my home town Launceston, Tasmania.

Taken with iPhone 5 and processed in Lightroom 4.

Photograph Issue 3 e-magazine

 

The newest issue of PHOTOGRAPH—a digital quarterly magazine for creative photographers—is now available! This is a gorgeous, ad-free magazine full of great photographs and articles from exceptional photographers who understand that this is not only a technical pursuit, but an artistic one as well. They write as much from the heart as they do from their expertise. Issue 3 is packed with incredible portfolios and Q+As—this time from: Hengki Koentjoro, Dave Delnea, and Kevin Clark. And there are the usual great columns from people like Martin Bailey, Nicole S. Young, Kevin Clark, and John Paul Caponigro, as well as a featured article from yours truly about my recent work in Northern Kenya. The magazine is getting better and better all the time, and we’re very proud of this issue. Curious about what's inside? Download the table of contents. You can purchase Issue 3 of PHOTOGRAPH for USD $8 on Craft & Vision. As with all of our offerings, we aim to knock the content out of the ballpark and do so at exceptional value. That’s why we're offering a one-year subscription for $USD 24—that's four issues for the price of three. I really believe the best way to learn photography is to study exceptional photographs, and to listen to voices that not only know the craft, but also practice the art of photography. I hope PHOTOGRAPH inspires you the way it has inspired us. - David duChemin

Beginner's Guide To Lens Whacking

Take that lens off the camera and do some freelensing, aka lens whacking. Unmounting the lens can create tilt-shift effects and introduce great light leaks. 

via Phototuts+

Free e-Book: Craft & Vision 2

Our Latest eBook is Completely FREE! You're going to love reading this 45-page PDF eBook—and yes, it's completely free. Inside you'll find articles by six Craft & Vision authors, and nine unique ways to improve your photography. Craft & Vision 2 is a gorgeous eBook of articles that will help photographers of all levels make stronger photographs. Martin Bailey, Piet Van den Eynde, Nicole S. Young, Dave Delnea, Sean McCormack, and David duChemin have all written articles exclusively for this eBook covering a variety of topics: making sharper images and learning to shoot in manual mode, developing smarter, balancing flash with ambient light, learning to see light, developing style and consistency, isolating your subjects, experimenting with B&W, and coping strategies for challenging light. Download the FREE eBook But wait! There's more! Liquidation Sale! BIG INFLATABLE GORILLA! Act now and you can get TWO free eBooks for the price of NONE! Craft & Vision 1 Eleven Ways to Improve Your Photography This eBook is jam-packed with 11 hands-on, practical articles written by David duChemin, Piet Van den Eynde, Andrew S. Gibson, Nicole S. Young, Alexandre Buisse, Stuart Sipahigil, Eli Reinholdtsen, and Michael Frye. Download the OTHER Free eBook

New Smirkonian Flipboard Magazine

I've started creating my own personal Flipboard magazine "Smirkonian". It's similar in a way to the old Tweetsheet posts I published on this blog last year. Primarily the Flipboard mag is a collection of articles, rss posts and tweets that I've read and had an interest in.

It requires the Flipboard app for iOS or Android. Download the app and search for Smirkonian.

Available on the App Store

Android app on Google Play

Timelapse - An Introduction to Still Photographs in Motion (e-book)

Download Dave Delnea's latest eBook TIMELAPSE for just $4 USD! Or buy the Author Bundle for $8 USD.

New eBook Dave Delnea's newest eBook Timelapse – An Introduction to Still Photographs in Motionis an exciting eBook for photographers looking to shoot and process stunning time-lapse sequences! Timelapse takes a step-by-step approach to the important aspects of creating moving photographs. Dave discusses the following key areas: cameras and lenses, tripods and support gear, intervalometers, tethering, filters, and of course the settings and techniques to pull it all together. Dave also walks you through Lightroom so you can successfully tackle the editing process, flicker, and output options. This eBook is full of tips, tricks, and ways to stay clear of common pitfalls when creating timelapses. Most photographers already have the tools they need to shoot their sequences, but they need help turning their vision into reality. "I shot and assembled my first timelapse sequence in about two hours after Dave showed me how to do it." - David duChemin  Watch Dave Delnea's awesome Iceland time-lapse. About the Author Dave Delnea is a commercial advertising photographer and creative collaboration advocate. His work has taken him around the world producing sports, lifestyle and travel imagery for clients such as Trump Hotels, Ritz Carlton and Lululemon. Buy the Author Bundle Get Timelapse PLUS Dave Delnea's other title Below the Horizon: Understanding Light at the Edges of Dayfor $8 USD (that’s 20% off). Special Offer For the first five (5) days only, use the promotional code TIME4 when you check out and pay only $4 OR use the code TIME20 to get 20% off when you buy 5+ eBooks. NOTE: These codes expire at 11:59pm (PST) March 22, 2013.

Sneak Peak

Sneaking a peak over the hill at a make-shift drive-in set up showing Ice Age on a warm Prospect evening.

Nikon D5000
Lightroom 4

Tonights Sunset

Tonights sunset... photo-bombed by a flock of birds.

Tasmania's Disappearing Kelp Forests

Tasmania's disappearing giant kelp forests from Rebecca Ramaley on Vimeo.

This video is a tribute to the beauty of these forests in the hope that the attention they are finally getting from the government is not too late to prevent their extinction.

The decline of this kelp forest and numerous others along the east coast of Tasmania include: warming waters, increasing occurrence of invasive species and a disruption of the natural food chain due to overfishing.

As of January 2013, the kelp forest at Fortescue Bay (seen in this video) no longer exists.

PHOTOGRAPH Issue 2 - Digital quarterly

The newest issue of PHOTOGRAPH—a digital quarterly magazine for creative photographers—is now available! This is a gorgeous, ad-free magazine full of great photographs from exceptional photographers, and articles from photographers and authors who understand that this is not only a technical pursuit but an artistic one and write as much from the heart as they do from their expertise. Issue Two includes featured portfolios and interviews with Martin Bailey, Andy Biggs, and Chris Orwig, as well as articles from some of my most trusted colleagues on topics like composition, post-processing, inspiration, editing, printing, and yes, even gear. Curious about what's inside? Download the table of contents. See more sample spreads. You can purchase Issue Two of PHOTOGRAPH for USD $8 by clicking any image above, or by visiting Craft & Vision. As with everything we offer we aim to knock the content out of the ballpark and do so at exceptional value. So we're offering a one-year subscription for $USD 24 - that's four issues for the price of three. I really believe the best way to learn photography is to study exceptional photographs, and to listen to voices that not only know the craft, but practice the art of photography. I hope PHOTOGRAPH inspires you the way it has already inspired us. - David duChemin

The Full Frame revolution

I've just read Ogden Chestnutt's column in the Jan 19 issue of Amateur Photographer. In it, he discusses the sudden popularity of 'entry level' full-frame sensor cameras and warns of "more bad bokeh, flimsy light trails and garish light painting" in the hands of budding photographers.

On the upside, the quality of UFO videos are set to improve!

As more manufacturers introduce full frame cameras to the market, prices will plummet. So now I wait for a price that's appealing as the pictures it promises to produce.

Tonights Sunset

Sunset at Prospect Vale, Tasmania
January 28, 2013 

Nikon D5000 with wide conversion lens
Lightroom 4

Tonight's Sunset

Quadcopter adventures at sea

Emerald Lake panorama

Emerald Lake in Yoho National Park, Canada

Nikon D5000
Calico panorama (3 image stitch)
Lightroom 4 with 32bit HDR plugin

eBook: A Sense of Place

Download Younes Bounhar's eBook A Sense of Place: Finding Your Eye at Home and Abroad for just $4.

New PDF eBook  A Sense of Place is more than just a travel photography workbook; it's geared towards helping you learn to experience a place more fully, see it with wider eyes, and photograph it more intentionally. Photography, for many of us, is all about learning to see. Younes Bounhar's A Sense of Place, Finding Your Eye at Home and Abroad, is a 42-spread eBook that can help you make stronger photographs, whether at home or elsewhere, by honing your ability to see and express, not just point the camera. Based on his trips back home to Morocco, Younes guides you through his process of making photographs in a place that is both foreign and familiar. Through this experience, beautiful photographs, and a series of excellent creative exercises, Younes teaches you how to see in new ways and do the work needed to make beautiful photographs of places near and far, strange or familiar. Starting off with a quick section about shooting At Home, he then jumps head-long into a much longer section on making photographs Abroad, but the two can not be so easily separated: the skills, and exercises, needed to make compelling photographs in either place are the same. For those looking for a discussion about traveling with gear, he touches on that too, but it's so much more. Younes is a patient and capable guide, though he'll make you work for it. If you're looking for a primer on photography of places, this is an excellent place to start. Younes Bounhar is a scientist turned travel, architecture, and landscape, photographer. He is based in Ottawa, Canada. His clients include St-Joseph Media, Apex Publications, K2 Impressions, National Institute of Scenic Arts and Music (Spain). His photographs have been featured in several magazines in Canada and abroad (including Canadian Geographic, PhotoLife, PhotoSolutions, Photography Monthly, and Craft & Vision's PHOTOGRAPH). Special Offer For the first five days only, use the promotional code  PLACE4  when you checkout and pay only $4 OR use the code  PLACE20  to get 20% off when you buy 5+ PDF eBooks. These codes expire at 11:59pm (PST) December 22, 2012.

Sunset Pano

Another sunset over the back paddock.

Nikon D5000 (5 image capture)
PSE10 Photomerge
Lightroom

Sunset & Smoke Haze

Sunset and Smoke Haze by Andrew Shepherd

Black Friday Special

As if they weren't cheap enough, $5 ebooks are now half price thru Friday.

Visit Craft And Vision before Friday, November 23 at 11:59pm (PST) and you’ll find every eBook marked down by 50%.  No discount codes required - we've already done it for you. Happy reading!

Exclusions: BigBooks and Magazines are not discounted. 
 

eBook: Lightroom 4 Unmasked

Download Piet Van den Eynde's BIGBOOK: Lightroom 4 UnMasked (Save USD $5) PLUS - Get 50% off any eBook - No Discount Code Required (Sale Ends Friday Night)

LIGHTROOM 4 UNMASKED  This is a complete guide to Adobe Lightroom 4 and we know you'll love diving into this beefy book. At 312 spreads this PDF is full of high-resolution screenshots, step-by-step instructions, and the tips, tricks and ideas that make digital darkroom work productive and more enjoyable. If you’re looking to learn Lightroom 4 and need a resource to help you do that quickly, or you’ve just upgraded and need to get up to speed, this is a great value. INTRODUCING THE BIGBOOK  A BIGBOOK is like an eBook but bigger. A lot bigger! It's a PDF that, other than the fact that it's fully searchable and loaded with hyperlinks, is really the text book you've always wanted, like those big, heavy ones you'd normally pay the big bucks for! We put our elves to work and we've produced a digital text book. Instead of carving up the content into smaller chunks we've created something BIG so that you can have a definitive resource at your finger tips while saving money at the same time. Featuring 60 (that's right... sixty) cases! Piet puts the tools and features into context, helping you learn and apply what you read along the way. Every module is covered in-depth, even third-party applications and plugins are tackled head-on. Lightroom-to-Photoshop integration is also included. Piet Van den Eynde is an Adobe Certified Expert and he's left no stone unturned. Whether you're new to Lightroom, or are upgrading, you can be at ease here as this BigBook is up to date (Lightroom 4.2). If you're looking to gain a deeper understanding of Lightroom or want to nip in the bud those novice issues that have plagued you for too long, then Lightroom 4 UnMasked is the perfect edition to your digital library. Download Note: This PDF file is very big (216MB). Please keep this in mind when initiating your download.  SPECIAL OFFER  Download Piet Van den Eynde's BIGBOOK: Lightroom 4 UnMasked (Save USD $5) The retail price of this BigBook is USD $20. But for the first seven (7) days only, use the promotional code  LR4FIVE  when you checkout and pay only $15. This code expires at 11:59pm (PST) November 27, 2012. BLACK FRIDAY SPECIAL  Hold on to your hats! Visit Craft And Vision before Friday, November 23 at 11:59pm (PST) and you’ll find every eBook marked down by 50%. No discount codes required - we've already done it for you. Happy reading! Exclusions: BigBooks and Magazines are not discounted.

Sydney in Tilt-Shift

Toy Boats - A Sydney Tilt-shift Time-lapse from Nathan Kaso on Vimeo.

Slow: The Magic of Long Exposure

Download Andrew S. Gibson's latest eBook SLOW: The Magic of Long-Exposure Photography

New PDF eBook  If you're looking to explore the creative possibilities behind the slow end of the shutter dial, looking for some new ideas, or wanting a primer on intentional camera motion, panning, long exposure techniques, and the equipment to help you get there, SLOW is an excellent place to begin. SLOW is 64 spreads of teaching and inspiration on the techniques and aesthetics of using a slow shutter to create expressive images skillfully captured through exposure and movement. To complement his own work, Andrew also includes two case studies from photographers Doug Chinnery and Joel Tjintjelaar, which help to provide tangible insights on the subject of long-exposure photography. Download Andrew S. Gibson's latest eBook SLOW: The Magic of Long-Exposure Photography

Stanley Park Documentary in need of finance

Today I made a small contribution to beautiful documentary about Stanley Park. I had the opportunity to visit this amazingly scenic park in May this year and walked the surrounding seawall.

Stanley Park: An Urban Wilderness is a full length documentary telling the remarkable story of Vancouver's iconic park.

As of this posting they had only raise $235 of their $100,000 target with 42 days to go. I'm surprised the local Vacouverites haven't shown much support for a film about their deeply loved 404.9 hectare park in the heart of the city.

Film-makers Adrian Green and Grant Finlayson started the project last year and need finance to finish the documentary off. Please visit their website Beautiful Earth for more information about the film, or drop by the campaign page to make a contribution.

Take a moment to view the work they've completed so far...

Stanley Park: An Urban Wilderness Teaser Trailer from Beautiful Earth Films on Vimeo.

New PDF Magazine: PHOTOGRAPH

Download Issue One of PHOTOGRAPH, a Quarterly Digital Magazine for USD $8 

or buy the 1-Year Subscription and Get Four Issues for the Price of Three (Save USD $8).

 

Today Craft & Vision are thrilled to announce PHOTOGRAPH, a digital quarterly magazine for creative photographers. They've been working hard for several months to create something exceptional: a gorgeous, ad-free, magazine full of great photographs from exceptional photographers, and articles from photographers and authors like Chris Orwig, John Paul Caponigro, Martin Bailey, and Piet Van den Eynde, photographers who understand that this is not only a technical pursuit but an artistic one and write as much from the heart as they do from their expertise. There are columns about printing, composition, post-processing, inspiration, editing, and yes, even gear. Issue One is the inaugural issue and includes featured portfolios and interviews with Art Wolfe, Bruce Percy, and Nate Parker, as well as articles from David duChemin, Andrew Gibson, Nicole S. Young, John Paul Caponigro, Martin Bailey, Al Smith, Jay Goodrich, Piet Van den Eynde, Younes Bounhar, Kevin Clark, and Chris Orwig. Curious about what's inside? Download the table of contents. See more sample spreads.   Purchase Issue One of PHOTOGRAPH for $8 USD   Purchase a One-Year Subscription for $24 USD  - that's four issues for the price of three.   SPECIAL OFFER: And because they'd rather you have a chance to do this risk free, you can buy Issue One for $8 and, for a limited time, buy the rest of the subscription at $16 once you've had a chance to read Issue One. They'll send a short email to everyone who purchases Issue One, and you'll have until the end of November 2012 to opt-in to the rest of the one-year subscription. "I really believe the best way to learn photography is to study exceptional photographs, and to listen to voices that not only know the craft, but practice the art of photography. I hope PHOTOGRAPH inspires you the way it has already inspired us." - David duChemin

Sandy Photos

Here are a few photos from Flickr taken during and after Hurricane Sandy that got my attention ...

Finding a bit of Tassie... Overseas

Back in May & June this year I traveled to British Columbia, Canada. A feature of this trip was a day cruise on the Inside Passage aboard BC Ferries Northern Expedition from Prince Rupert to Port Hardy on Vancouver Island. There are snow capped mountains, waterfalls, whales and other wildlife, all stunning vistas to keep a photographer happily occupied for hours along this sheltered waterway. I'm currently reviewing several hundred video clips shot on my little Nikon AW100 and also capturing a few still frames of scenes I'd missed taking with my DLSR.

On a few occasions while travelling, I come across items that are made in my home state of Tasmania. Below is a video frame capture taken on the cruise and shows a liferaft capsule made by Liferaft Systems Australia who operate out of Derwent Park in Hobart, Tasmania.

I only discovered this today. How did i miss it?

eBook: Essential Development - Techniques for Lightroom 4

Download Sean McCormacks's eBook Package ESSENTIAL DEVELOPMENT This .zip file includes a Lightroom Toolbox of 85 presets. Or buy the PDF only.

New PDF eBook + Lightroom Toolbox Want to take your Lightroom workflow to a new level? Essential Development, 20 Great Techniques for Lightroom 4, by Sean McCormack, is an amazing resource for any photographer who wants to get the most out of Lightroom's Develop Module without all the guesswork. Lightroom keeps changing, and most of us don’t have time to dig around under the hood to learn it all. Essential Development is a no-holds-barred guidebook that can help you explore, modify, and dig deep into the Lightroom 4 tools you need to make your post-processing efforts more productive and produce the final images your portfolio deserves! The eBook is divided into 20 chapters, focused entirely on the Develop module, covering topics such as: Understanding The Histogram, Making White White, Beauty Retouching, Dodge & Burn for Beauty, Cross Processing, Achieving a Filmic Look, Image Toning, Tilt Shift, Effective Sharpening, and Correcting Lens Issues. Sean is a consummate professional, and an industry leader in Lightroom education, and he's delivered a large, concisely-written eBook full of clear and large screenshots that will feel more like a workbook than an eBook.  Our primary offering is an eBook package (.zip file) which includes the PDF of Essential Development, Essential Development Toolbox (a folder of 85 Lightroom presets), and a short PDF instruction manual to help with the installation and catalog some of the presets. Presets are a great way to cut down your editing time and with 85 of them there are presets here for a range of styles and tastes. Whether you’re just looking to tweak your knowledge of Lightroom since the jump from LR3 to LR4, or you’ve been waiting for a great resource that doesn’t bog you down in Library modules and Print templates. This is a useful, hands-on offering that we know you'll love.  Special Offer on Essential Development Package The retail price on this package is just USD $7, but for the next six days, use the promotional codeDEVELOP6 when you check out so you can have the Essential Development Package (incl. the Toolbox of 85 Lightroom presets) for just $6 OR use the code DEVELOP20 to get 20% off when you buy 5+ PDF eBooks from the Craft & Vision collection. These codes expire at 11:59pm PST Tuesday - October 23, 2012.  PDF Only If you want to keep it simple, you can purchase the PDF only for just $5 - visit the standard product page at Craft & Vision. At 120-spreads this is great education and a killer value.

Joey L. - the future of photography

One of my favourite photographers has a new book coming out in December. Although I specialise in landscape and not portraiture, I really like the lighting style of  Joey L . 

Photographing Shadow and Light: Inside the Dramatic Lighting Techniques and Creative Vision of Portrait Photographer Joey L. 

 

Amazon book description:

Aspiring photographers are always looking for that edge, that fresh point of view to add drama to their images. Photographer Joey L. found his vision early, drawing critical acclaim as a brilliant commercial photographer with a distinctive technical expertise for lighting. 
            In Photographing Shadow and Light, Joey lifts the curtain on his dramatic, creatively fearless approach to portraiture, sharing his personal philosophy and a behind-the-scenes look at 15 striking photo sessions—from personal projects shot in Africa, India, and Brooklyn to commercial shoots for 50 Cent, the Jonas Brothers, and Project Runway All Stars. Joey provides readers with a step-by-step description of how he visualized each shoot, formed meaningful connections with his subjects, and “built” his signature dramatic lighting effects—one light at a time.
            Featuring more than 85 stunning portraits, detailed lighting diagrams, and a foreword from industry icon David Hobby (aka Strobist), Photographing Shadow and Light shares the creative process behind one of today’s most exciting photography talents, providing serious amateurs and professionals a fresh perspective on creating compelling, professional quality portraits.
 
“Joey Lawrence is . . . the future of photography. Get used to it.” —David Hobby, from the foreword
 
Get inside the images of commercial and fine art portrait photographer Joey L. with this behind-the-lens guide to his fearless approach, creative vision, and signature lighting techniques.

Also available as an ebook

  

Great Light, Easy Light - Strobe techniques that don't look lit

Download Kevin Clark's PDF eBook Great Light, Easy Light

New PDF eBook  Great Light, Easy Light – Strobe Techniques That Don’t Look Lit by Kevin Clark is an eBook about creating beautiful light. Kevin is a veteran commercial photographer who knows how to cut to the chase and provide photographers of all levels with the practical advice they need to create and manipulate light in order to produce the best aesthetic. Whether you’re using studio lights or off-camera flash, an eight-foot octabank or a bed sheet, you’ll learn about how to get light to do what you want, regardless of the tools.  This 64-page (32-spread) PDF is a hands-on guide that will help you understand how to make a scene look a little more natural, and a little less “lit”. With diagrams showing one, two, and three-light setups, as well as case studies, you’ll be able to set aside the formulas and recipes for lighting and learn how Kevin plays, tweaks and experiments with the subtleties of light. Great Light, Easy Light is a gorgeous eBook, full of stunning portraits, and is the behind-the-scenes resource you’ll want to have in your digital library as you plan for your next shoot.  Download Kevin Clark's PDF eBook Great Light, Easy Light

Depth of Field

The Lion City from Keith Loutit on Vimeo.

GoPro Seagulls

This is the second video I'm seen of a seagull taking off with a GoPro.

 

And there's the other one, posted about a year ago...

One bike vs. San Fransisco

It's like Parkour only on a bike.

Portraits of Earth

Download David duChemin's latest PDF eBook Portraits of Earth

New PDF eBook  Portraits of Earth, An Introduction to Landscape Photography is an inspiring and beautiful eBook that teaches just about everything David has learned about landscape photography while chasing the light across seven continents. As a landscape eBook for all levels, photographers will find the education and inspiration to make beautiful photographs of their own, no matter what adventure awaits them.  This massive eBook boasts 90 spreads (180 pages if you're still counting the old way) is broken down into sections on Gear, Composition, Light, Land, Water, Snow, and Detail Shots, and is accompanied by large, beautiful photographs, all with complete EXIF data, many of them previously unseen, from travels on all seven continents. There's also Behind the Shot sections that discuss topics like exposure blending, maximizing sharpness, using ND and polarizer filters, and shooting in weather, like fog. Whether you're new to landscape photography or looking to hone your craft this eBook will be a valuable and inexpensive addition to your library.   Download David duChemin's latest PDF eBook Portraits of Earth

Winter Sunrise

Occasionally I forget I've left an SD card in the camera. I discovered this sunrise still on the card taken way back in June.

 

Taken from my back door looking over Prospect Vale, Tasmania at 8.10am June 17, 2012

Nikon D5000
Lightroom 4

 

Illfraville Sunset

Sunset from my brothers house at Beauty Point.
Illfraville and West Arm on the Tamar River
September 1, 2012

Nikon D5000
Lightroom 4

Tweetsheet Tuesday

So here are a few Tweets that have grabbed my attention today.

I know what I'm watching tonight...

Billy Connolly + British Columbia - what's not to like? Tonight 7.30pm on 72: last ep of his Journey to the Edge of the World series.

— BeCuriousinBC (@AussiesLoveBC) August 27, 2012

I've been looking for a solution to synchronise Lightroom catalogues on my MacBook Air and iMac. This comes close but not quite...

Synchronize your Lightroom catalog with the cloud using Mosaic View: j.mp/MWfAZg

— PetaPixel (@petapixel) August 27, 2012

This is a beautiful waterfall shot...

Norway by Apo Japo bit.ly/Tkrydk on 500px.com

— 500px: Choice (@500px_choice) August 27, 2012

… and this stunner of the Milky Way pouring into a waterfall. Well thought out composition.

Milky Way + Waterfall: ow.ly/dfiKm

— Amazing Photography (@AmazingPics) August 27, 2012

Although I'm not the conference type, I hear the best part is the free buffet...

When I go to a conference at the @westinbayshore tmblr.co/Zt2_5vSFyuWy

— Definitely Raining (@VancouverWTF) August 27, 2012

British match racing sailor, Ian Williams started following me on Twitter today. No chance of reciprocating as I'm following the Kiwi FMJ team. (Yes I know I should be backing the Aussie teams.)

Just moved into the Badrutt's Palace hotel ready for St Moritz Match Race. Pretty nice view from the balcony! twitter.com/Williams_Racin…

— Ian Williams (@Williams_Racing) August 27, 2012

Last I checked, bids were at $7,000 for the tin lid...

If a Cylon + Boba Fett had a baby...ebay.com/itm/Reimagined…#eBay

— Video Game Museum (@vgmuseum) August 26, 2012

Tassie pro cyclist Wes Sulzberger retweeted this unfortunate gem...

Doh! Not the way to win a race... youtube.com/watch?v=PGBQ4G… via @cycle_nation

— dan craven (@DanFromNam) August 27, 2012

Last year I stayed up all night to watch this event via internet streaming. It's one way to use up my monthly 30G quota, but worth it. Santorini is a natural environment for Parkour.

Early promo for this one. It's gonna be huge! :D instagr.am/p/O1fZ_BDUPj/

— Airborn Academy™ (@AirbornAcademy) August 27, 2012

 

And the tributes continue...

Throw-away photographs shot during Neil Armstrong's visit to the moon: j.mp/SKwHxN

— PetaPixel (@petapixel) August 27, 2012

 

RT @in_focus: Neil Armstrong, 1930-2012 - a farewell to a true pioneer in 38 photos - theatln.tc/NRQZWJ

— Amazing Photography (@AmazingPics) August 27, 2012

Finding Focus

Download Nicole S. Young's latest PDF eBook Finding Focus

New PDF eBook  Finding Focus, Understanding the Camera's Eye is an invaluable resource for photographers who want to further develop their technique of on-camera and post-production focus. Finding the best expression of your photographic vision can only happen when your working knowledge and skills produce images that direct the viewers' eye to what you intended. This beautiful eBook is for photographers of any level and you can expect to immediately benefit from Nicole's in-depth analysis of aperture, depth of field, camera settings, lenses and lens compression and editing. "FINDING FOCUS will help you make sharper photographs, but more than that it'll help you make photographs that help you tell a stronger story and achieve the aesthetic you're hoping for in your photographs." - David duChemin. This ebook merges together the best of both worlds: the Artist and the Geek. Nicole's insights and hands-on advice zeros you in on the advanced focusing techniques you need to photograph subjects of all kinds (people, groups, animals, still life, macro, landscapes) while at the same time leveraging the element of focus to further develop your visual storytelling. Then the software gets its turn as she unpacks how to best use sharpening tools in Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom and use advanced techniques, like focus staking and adding blur, to your advantage. All of this is backed-up by easy to understand illustrations and detailed descriptions. And no stone is left unturned as Nicole addresses common mistakes helping you make quick work of making clear and stunning photographs. Nicole S. Young is a full-time photographer and author specializing in food and stock photography, licensing her images through iStockphoto and Getty Images. She's an accredited Adobe Certified Expert (ACE) in Photoshop CS5 and has authored print books through Peachpit Press (Canon 7D: From Snapshots to Great Shots, EOS Canon 60D: From Snapshots to Great Shots and Food Photography: From Snapshots to Great Shots). Download Nicole S. Young's latest PDF eBook Finding Focus

Rearguard Falls pano

A three image panorama of Rearguard Falls in British Columbia, Canada.

Rearguard Falls is one of two waterfalls on the Fraser River, situated near the BC/Alberta provincial border.

Acquisition: Nikon D5000
Panorama: Calico
Processing: Lightroom 4 

Pushed the processing to give it a slight faux hdr/tonemapped look.

There's a larger view on my Flickr page.

Here's the before image... 

Lions Gate

Lions Gate Bridge at Prospect Point (Stanley Park). The bridge spans Burrard Inlet to North Vancouver.

Taken on an evening harbour cruise just after sunset.

Nikon AW100
Lightroom 4

Processed jpeg file from AW100 . The faux HDR look created by ramping up the Clarity slider in Lightroom's Develop module.

Prince Rupert

Early morning departure from Prince Rupert aboard BC Ferries Northern Expedition. (June 4 2012)

Nikon D500
Lightroom 4

The image has been cropped (not pano)

click image to see larger size

Little Red Caboose

Canadian Pacific Railway caboose at Last Spike, Craigellachie, B.C.

Processing:
Nikon AW100
Lightroom 4

Red isolation fx done with Lightroom. The Nikon AW100 could have achieved a similar result in camera.

[click photo for larger version]

Dodge & Burn

Download Piet Van den Eynde's latest eBook Package Dodge & Burn for just $8! This .zip file includes the EasyDodge Panel and exercise files. Or get the Lite version for just $5. New PDF eBook + Photoshop Panel + *Exercise Files Do you want to add life and depth to your images? Dodge & Burn, Leading the Eye with Lightroom and Photoshop by Piet van Den Eynde is an amazing eBook package (.zip file) that will guide you through the process of making the most out of your digital darkroom. When editing your photographs, dodging and burning can produce that gentle push or pull of the eye so your viewer can zero in on everything your creative vision intended. It’s arguably one of the most important steps in post-processing and it’s as old as photography itself. Dodge & Burn is a comprehensive eBook (91-speads) about the tools and the techniques you need to quickly make editing your image files in Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop easier and more fun. Amateurs and vocational photographers alike will benefit from Piet's insights, workflow, custom-built panel and matching action set, links to video resources, and special discounts on Nik Software. What's truly amazing about this offering is that it's so much more than an eBook, it's a package! The FULL package bundles Piet’s custom EasyDodge Photoshop Panel (normally a USD $10 purchase on its own) and a matching user guide. On top of that, we've included 10 exercise files to go along with the tutorials in the eBook so you can practice on your own or go through the included history steps to see the post-processing unfold right in front of your eyes. EasyDodge is an amazing little piece of software, a custom Photoshop palette. To see it in action, watch Piet's demo video on his website. "This is a great eBook and the software is amazing, yet simple to use." - David duChemin. Special Offer on Full PDF Package The retail price on this incredible package is USD $10, but for the next six days, use the promotional code DODGE8 when you check out so you can have the PDF version of Dodge & Burn (Full Package) for just $8 OR use the code DODGE20 to get 20% off when you buy 5+ PDF eBooks from the Craft & Vision collection. These codes expire at 11:59pm PST July 22, 2012. *The Lite PDF Package If you want to save yourself a few dollars then consider downloading Dodge & Burn "Lite" for just USD $5 - the biggest difference being that exercise files are not included. What you do get in this offer is the eBook, a lighter version of the EasyDodge Panel (still an amazing tool), and a matching user guide. Note: There is no discount associated with this bundle.

Shoot + Share - eBook

Download the New PDF eBook by Craft & Vision for just $4. SHOOT + SHARE Getting Your Photographs Out Into the World by Stuart Sipahigil. New eBook Available SHOOT + SHARE by Stuart Sipahigil is an inspiring and insightful eBook about making photographs you’re proud of and successfully sharing them with an eager audience. Do you want to attract more fans, followers, and buyers? Are your best photographs buried in a shoebox or hard-drive? Stuart will help you define your goals, understand your opportunities, and determine the best approach to navigating the seemingly endless choices of where and how to display your work. SHOOT + SHARE is packed with great ideas that will help you process why you want to share your photographs, who needs to see them, which photographs they need to see, and where to find your audience. This 56-spread PDF eBook is full of practical and down-to-earth advice by a photographer who has over 30 years experience. Stuart is a great teacher, and SHOOT + SHARE will help both the amateur and vocational photographer formulate a sharing strategy that includes websites, social media, self-published books, prints, canvases and more.    Special Offer on PDFs For the next five days only, use the promotional code SHARE4 when you check out so you can have the PDF version of SHOOT + SHARE for only $4 OR use the code SHARE20 to get 20% off when you buy 5+ PDF eBooks from the Craft & Vision collection. These codes expire at 11:59pm PST April 28, 2012.

Click here to view more details

Launceston Gorge photos

Last week I enjoyed a pleasant morning walk through Launceston's Cataract Gorge. It's close to where I live and I often visit when I'm at a loose end. I always enjoy the serenity and the many working trails offer a variety of routes to take.

On this day, I started at the Duck Reach carpark and trekked along the gorge to the First Basin, stopping briefly for a refuel of coffee then climbed the path less trodden by tourists to the Eagle Eyrie Lookout. This is the highest viewpoint in the reserve. There were other trails to take on my return, but I chose to double-back the same way I came.

Below are a selection of photos from the walk, along with the GPS tracker route recorded by the Nikon AW100. The other map has been generated by Adobe's Lightroom 4 map module showing the locations of where all the photos were taken (including the discard ones not shown here).

 

    

 

On the Duck Reach trail.

 

The suspension bridge at Duck Reach

 

A section of gorge near Duck Reach.

 

Taken near the suspension bridge near the first basin. In this shot I particularly liked the way the green foliage offsets agains the dark rocks. I wasn't evident in the original photo until I'd applied a set of enhancements in Lightroom.

 

 This is near the start of the climb to Eagle Eyrie.

 

About halfway up to Eagle Eyrie lookout, the track starts to become a little rugged. This was actually taken on my return descent, hence the viewpoint towards the First Basin seen in the upper left.

 

The view from Eagle Eyrie isn't that great from a photographic perspective. There are too may trees blocking the view. This shot taken from a lower lookout on the same track shows water flowing through the last section of gorge before connecting to the Tamar River in Launceston.

 

 A glimpse of Launceston from the lower lookout on the Eagle Eyrie trail.

 

Suspension Bridge at First Basin.

 

I normally take panoramas by taking a series of three or four photos (depending on the view) and stitching them together in Photoshop. The Nikon AW100 has the ability to take panorama photos and process them in the camera. This is a rather wide 180 degree view, one of two preset settings on the camera.

For more information on the Cataract Gorge in Launceston, Tasmania…  please visit the official site here.

Nikon AW100 camera info here

Adobe Lightroom 4 details here

 

Mile High Hazards

Back in January you probably saw the video by two school students that launched the first Legoman into space, well here comes the first Lego space shuttle sent to the stratosphere.

What's got me worried is that there seems to be too many amateurs sending helium balloons up into near space. In a few months time, when I'm winging my way to Canada, I don't was my aircraft colliding with some turd-breath's experiment. Look at this near-mis in the following video (at about 3:45 in).

Monday Tweetsheet

El Gran Viaje by Luis Beltrán bit.ly/zN1WpO on 500px.com

— 500px: Choice (@500px_choice) February 26, 2012

I really love this photo.

 

On the other hand, there are so many things wrong with this podium shot, I don't know where to begin... lockerz.com/s/187369337

— Anthony Tan (@anthony_tan) February 26, 2012

Oh. Viewing it with my eyes closed.

 

71-31... fear not, this is just the half time score ;-)

— Sean Smith (@seansmith_au) February 27, 2012

Feeling a Kevenge sequel by games end.

 

~

Is it true? Is it done? Is it over?
Are you dancing? Are you dancing it at all?

- Nada Surf "Looking Through"

 

 

London Eye ride

Here's a sequence of photos I'd taken in London , June 2010. Taken with a Nikon D5000 and processed with Lightroom 4 beta. There are 30 images, so this may take a while to load.

 

I guess the real appreciation of the processing would be seeing the originals as most of these images had been discarded, now given a second life with Lightroom 4 beta.

 

Saturday Tweetsheet - reboot edition

Mark Wahlberg liked the Red Chair so much he may well be buying one for his house this weekend.

— Graham Norton Show (@TheGNShow) February 24, 2012

Should see this in Australia next week.

 

Whats going on people?? Long time no tweet...x

— Luke Pasqualino (@LucaPasqualino) February 24, 2012

Long time no BSG Blood and Chrome.

 

Video of the Day! "4 seasons of GoPro shots put in the blender, serve chilled & well shaken!" ow.ly/9h3Aq #speedflying #snow #GoPro

— GoPro® (@GoPro_News) February 24, 2012

Horrid white frame sunnies. Look closely, justice done on the last shot.

 

Portraits of people posing with all of their possessions: bitly.com/xbhUSa

— PetaPixel (@petapixel) February 24, 2012

When I left home 22 years ago, I had more stuff than these people. Am I a hoarder?

 

TSAITA is out today in Australia via Stop Start Music. Itunes release includes "The Dulcitone Files.' bit.ly/ytxaJN

— matthew caws (@nadasurf) February 24, 2012

Oh fucking finally!!! Too late with me - in the time it took to release it here in Australia I bought and imported the cd from Amazon (US) and I've been playing it non-stop for at least three weeks.

 

Talk like a Canuck

@VanLookout
Vancouver Lookout
LIVE THE LANGUAGE fb.me/XbSnIcdH

This is a great little vdo. I'm learning to talk like a Canuck in preparation for my Vancouver adventure later this year.

EF - Live The Language - Vancouver from Albin Holmqvist on Vimeo.

The video is part of a series commissioned for EF International Language Centres. The first few shots reminded me of these photos I took of Vancouver in 1986...