Bonaventure Adventure in HDR

(Left) Surreal HDR toning (Right) Custom HDR toning

In a recent conversation with a fellow photographer, we were discussing the over-use of HDR or high dynamic range photography. His description of HDR is “cartoonish” and in most instances I would agree. HDR toning can be applied in a variety of ways. but the basic application is essentially taking 2-3 exposures or brackets of a composition and merging them into a photograph that has more detail in all tonal ranges. This concept is not new to photography. Photographers can employ a variety of techniques to reduce the highlight-shadow ratio that include several types of fill-light applications.

-1 Exposure with Curves adjustment

HDR toning

The point of HDR is to improve the dynamic range of high contrast subjects. In traditional B7W film

photography one would “expose for the shadows and develop for the highlights.” This meant that the are of crucial concern was our shadow detail areas. We did not want to lose the detail there, but our development times and temperatures were crucial to preserve the details and tonal ranges in the highlight areas.

In digital photography, the development step is no longer an option. Digital media does not preserve highlight detail very well over several zones. It drops off very quickly and get blown out. Once the detail is gone, you cannot bring it back in Photoshop no matter how hard you try. It cannot be recreated but it can be merged into the highlight area from another image with a different exposure that preserves the highlight detail.

The one caveat to HDR before you run out and get the latest and great mapping software is that well exposed photo with a bit of adjustment using Curves, can come very close to HDR without the ghosting, glowing and surreal over-done images.

So, is HDR being over done? Like most gimmicks it can be pushed to the limit. I still hate images that are skewed sideways, but my general philosophy is if the image is not well composed to start, then all the filters, adjustments, crops or tricks in the world will not make it better.

Mid-tone exposure with Curves adjustment

HDR toning

Early Birds

I was not the only early bird this morning inspired by the crisp fall weather. Several painters scattered along Laurel Hill Scenic Drive at the Savannah National Wildlife Refuge. Although it has been some time since my last visit to the refuge, I was thrilled to be back. It was too cool for ‘gators but the water fowl and coastal birds were abundant and I had quite a productive day with my feathered friends.

As I prepare for the Creative Photography Class at the Coastal Georgia Center this evening I am excited to inspire a whole new group of students. I want to show them everything but have to filter it so that they are not overwhelmed by the information.

One of the activities we will cover on our field trips is shutter speed and motion. Today is a perfect lesson as I shoot wildlife. Because wildlife is fast-moving, we need fast shutter speeds. Today I am shooting at 1/1000 of a second and higher. In order to achieve these, I have set my ISO to a higher number than normal for me. Typically I don’t shoot at ISO 800 on a really bright day because I have plenty of light. High ISOs are reserved for those instances when I am shooting in low-light conditions. But when I need more aperture/shutter combinations, I tweak my ISO. This is just one of those times. It allows me to shoot at a higher shutter speed and a mid-range f-stop so I can freeze the action and get decent depth-of-field.

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New calendar

You can now see all my photographic classes, workshops and field trips that are being offered. The Google calendar can be viewed by following the link on the right under My Pages. Click on the event for more information on location, registration, cost, etc. If any documents are associated with the event, those can be downloaded also. As always, for the most up-to-date info come HERE!

I’ll take mine Raw, thank you

Lately, I have found myself being way too lazy. I hate to admit it but I am. I have been shooting almost everything as JPGs. Normally this is okay. For my family photos, or quick snaps, I find it works just fine. But when I spend a great deal of time composing an image and working to get the exposure just right- the perfect combination of aperture and shutter speed. The depth-of-field is perfect even and I then release the shutter. Later, I go back and realize, it is a JPG! Not RAW, not TIFF but JPG.

The differences here are not as dramatic because I cannot post a TIFF  or RAW file. The best I can do is post a PNG which is a lossless file type. The JPG file type is a lossy file type because it is compressed. Much like a trash compactor compressed trash into a smaller space, a JPG algorithm compacts the file into a smaller space on your storage card, hard drive or other memory device. What is lost is color richness, sharpness and definition of details- especially over time. Opening and saving the file over and over again more and more information is lost as the algorithm runs again and again.

Can you tell which is the JPG and which is the PNG?

Another day in paradise

I am so lucky because I can get up most any given morning of the year and fall out of bed and be within a short driving distance of any of several interesting shooting locales. One of my favorites, but one I seldom visit regulalry, is the Savannah-Ogeechee Canal Historic site. It is located off Highway 204 as you leave Savannah.

Just a stones throw from the intersection of I-95 and GA Highway 204, it is a histoic canal area where barges where literally pulled from the Ogeechee River through the canal system to the Savannah River. It is also one of several historic sites where Sherman, on his historic march to the sea fought the Confederates.

The canal is rich with flora, fauna, and mosquitoes! Today I served as a tasty breakfast because my repellent didn’t seem to be very effective against their barrage. West Nile Virus is a very real threat, so don’t take the pesky biters lightly if you venture into the area!

Cloudy with a chance of creative therapy

This gallery contains 5 photos.

So I set the old alarm for 6am without checking the weather for today and it was CLOUDY! I got up any, but not until 6:30 and stopped to get a coffee and breakfast sandwich before heading off to a … Continue reading →

Classes Confirmed

Received the proverbial “thumbs up” today. My classes are confirmed through Georgia Southern’s Continuing Education department here in Savannah. Classes will include Digital Photography, Creative Photography, Advanced Photography, Portraiture and Photoshop.
Check out their website for more information and to register:
http://ceps.georgiasouthern.edu/conted/cesavannahmenu.html

New projects & New classes

I am so excited about the coming Fall. 2011-2012 promises to be filled with new ideas, new projects and new classes! Yes, you heard me say it- classes. One of the colleges with a local branch has contacted me to start up my classes and we have been getting our ducks in a row, crunching numbers, getting our mailing lists together and making the usual preparations to begin classes as early as September or October, 2011. So check your inbox for an announcement and keep checking here for current postings as to dates, times and registration information.

As for new ideas, I was inspired by a scrapbook page I saw from someone’s trip to Italy and decided that Savannah was too beautiful a city not to be commemorated with its own memorial of sorts. This photo panel is available for purchase and features my own unique photos of my adopted hometown. It is also available as a scrapbook page for those who have visited and would like to include in their scrapbook. Contact me for current pricing information.

As to the new projects, the previous idea has led to a unique idea. Taking the same concept but rather than a city or country name, using a family’s surname or individual’s first name. Special events, such as a wedding, anniversary, quinceaños or graduation can also apply to the concept.

the perfect way to start the day

Our first photography field trip went great this morning! I was joined at Skidaway Island State Park by five of my students and had an invigorating start to the weekend and the day. This morning was quite chilly too, so we didn’t even need coffee.

We met at the head of the Big Ferry Trail and hiked into the longest of the three trails. I was most anxious to see how the area had changed since my last visit almost 25 years ago. Yes, 25 years! The last time I had been there was during a field trip with John Earl while attending SCAD.

Some of my favorite moments: having a big buck bound out of the trees near the Shell Midden and disappear into the dense stand of trees; finding the most amazing trees growing to the waters of Skidaway Narrows; and my most favorite- spending the entire morning with some great photographers!

These field trips will hopefully become a regular thing (except maybe during the hottest parts of the summer). As I sit here in front of a crackling fire, warming my back-side (it is still numb from the chill), I am thrilled with the outcome.

Thanks, Jimmy, Bubba, Liz, Susan and Mark…

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Ahhh, therapy!

Palmetto & spectral highlights

I have long been a believer in the absolute need for people to have some kind of creative outlet.  Without it, humans can go crazy and said crazy person will usually take an innocent by-stander or two with him/her. Photography is an easy way to get that creative outlet.

For years I heard the same old excuse “but I can’t even draw a strait line!” Thankfully, with photography, you don’t need to be able to draw a straight line. You just need to be able to see. Recently, I was in desperate need of some therapy- major therapy. I had become so stressed-out with life, that I had lost the joy of living. The simple pleasures, like listening to the rain come down; the sound of the birds as they chirped their good morning songs;  the sun as it sets slowly into the western horizon and the waiting calm of evening.

I set out to find my therapy and headed to the Skidaway Island State Park. I walked the 1 mile Sandpiper trail and then connected to the 1 mile Avian Loop Trail. Walking through the wetlands and listening to the rustle of leaves, the chattering of the squirrels and unknown birds signaling to each other, I felt a tranquil peace come back.

 

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So, if you’re looking for a way to escape the proverbial rat race, find your creative outlet. With digital photography, the only investment you have is your initial camera and media storage purchases. You don’t have to process or print images to see the results. You can also alter the images by using creative filters and layering. If you don’t like what you see, you can always undo or delete.

Happy shooting!