Photopills: Absolutely Great

I have had the Photopills App for at least two years, and I have used various features of it (by the way, it is an app that is jammed packed with features and information; it really is the only app you need if you are a photographer, hands down). But I was somewhat intimidated on the more involved and powerful aspects of it, namely locating the Milky Way, Moon, and Sun based on certain geographical locations and times. So, I never used these more powerful features.

I finally relented and figured out how to use them by viewing the creative videos that Photopills has on its website. I was blown away at what I could accomplish with this tool (especially how I underutilized it).

My scouting schedule for trying to set up different photo shots for foreground and astronomical events ( e.g., moon, milky way) was accurately filled in for the next year, and gave me a definite schedule for shooting potentially great shots.

The currently posted photo is a serendipitous shot of part of St. Francis Basilica in Assisi, Italy at sunset time. The colors of this part of Italy are unique, and I had wished that I could have captured more of them. But I will have to wait for more magical moments in the future, especially if St. Francis grants this prayer. The photo was taken with a Canon 5DS, EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM @ 105mm, f/10, 1/320″, post processed with ACR, DxO PhotoLab2, Color Efex Pro, and using a Gradient Map.

Calm Within Chaos

The visions of my visit to Venice in the fall of 2018 still haunt me. There are so many moments which live in my visual memory that I was unable to give substance to as far as a concrete photograph. Maybe this is the intentionality that was spoken of in philosophy of previous decades. That is, my mind intending and capturing the world (or object thereof) and trying to give meaning or form or some kind of representation to it. In other words, to capture this reality in some concrete form that the mind perceives in so-called immaterial ideas.

The above tries to describe the process of me trying to take a photo of a unique experience and then translating this into a printed form, viz. photograph. The great photographers have successfully accomplished this process from what their mind’s eye has seen to what exists in their photographs. Every other aspiring great photographer is trying to imitate this process.

Venice was so unique and visually stimulating that it leaves one overwhelmed.

When in Venice I attempted to accommodate myself to its challenges, namely time of day, crowds, time pressure, unfamiliarity of surroundings. In other words, hit or miss “tourist photography.”

The posted photo provides somewhat of a counterpoint to the maddening crowd of Venice. That is, the quiet and calm of one of the finest hotels in Venice, Hotel Danieli. The hotel exists in the heart of the most intense tourist activity of Venice, i.e. right off the Riva degli Schiavoni.

[As an aside to my above post, I must note that in viewing one of Kelbyone.com videos, I was struck by the fact that it was filmed at the Hotel Danieli. Be that as it may, it is nice to know that my membership fee in KelbyOne pays for this type of corporate benefit.]

In any event, I am pleased to a degree that I was able to capture Calm within Chaos in Venice.

The posted photo was taken with a Canon 5Ds, with a EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM lens @ 24mm, f/6.3, Exposure Compensation -1.33, 1/50″, 6400 ISO, post processed with DxO Photolab 2, ACR, DxO Nik2018 Viveza 2, and a Gradient Map.

Failed Photo Shoot

I mustarded all the energy and creative drive within me to go out on a mid-winter’s night to an island in the middle of Narragansett Bay to try to photograph a panorama of the Newport Bridge under the arch of the Milky Way. I had used the app PhotoPills to determine that the Milky would indeed be in this position as it had been. The trouble was that I was shooting to the northeast from Jamestown, RI Center which naturally had the background of Newport and the U.S. Naval Base which was brightly light affording a ton of light pollution to my ill-planned shoot (since I thought this would not be that much of an issue). It was!

The other fact of my failed photo shoot was that I was shooting at c.2:30 AM with a 15º temperature. I thought I was well dressed for the elements, except I underestimated that my hands (not gloved) would be exposed for over an 1 1/2 hour time period. Needless to say, I panicked (to a degree) at that time (at the end of 1 1/2 hrs.) since I did not have any strength in my hands. Luckily by that time I had retreated to my car but still had trouble retrieving the car keys from my jean pocket.

Lesson learned. Do not underestimate the elements, as well as, pay attention to the shooting environment of your target figure (in my case, the light pollution of the city).

This posted panorama was taken with a Canon 5DS, using a Canon EF16-35mm f/2.8L USM @ 25mm with an f/2.8, 20″, ISO 160. These settings are a bit out of the ordinary for shooting the Milky Way but I was trying to adapt to the light pollution. So much so, that I even used a graduated 3-stop neutral density filter to deal with the light pollution. Post processing was done with DxO Photolab 2, Adobe CR, and Color Efex Pro 4.

Addendum: The photo above does not show the Milky Way simply because of my camera settings. At the very least the ISO should have been 3200, and a shutter speed of 20-30″ to capture the stars. I somewhat captured the bridge but at too great a cost of a successfully planned photo. In other words, details matter.

Patriots: The Enduring Legacy

It’s been an unusual occurrence, or should I say, it’s been an unusual series of occurrences to witness the continuing success of the New England Patriots over the last two decades. Not only have they succeeded in winning their Division, but also the American Football Championship multiple times (which amounts to being in the Super Bowl every other year for the last 18 years), as well as winning the Super Bowl five times.

They are at it again this year, despite all odds with reports of aging players, discord within the team, and rising levels of skilled players on other teams.

I’ve always found following the Patriots to be a self-rewarding adventure simply because, I believe, they are reality-based and sincere, meaning they do not engage in the hype of today’s media advertising, but are concerned with the basics of football, i.e., understanding and preparing for the other teams strengths and weakness, and then having players who will work to establish teamwork.

All of the above is simply a prelude to this: I often attend the Patriots Summer Training Camp. It’s a wonderful opportunity to engage the players because they are so close to the fans on the practice field and because one gets to experience the raw force of talent and skill (i.e., anyone can succeed at this time, an un-drafted rookie or a third round draft player, or whatever).

This last year has been a most trying year for Patriots fans, since at many points during the season, it had appeared the team was in decline and not with the potential force of other years. However, they have managed to reach the Super Bowl once again. Quite Unbelievably!

The posted photo is from Training Camp in the Summer of 2018, with Bill Belichick, Ernie Adams (Director of Football Research), Dante Scarnecchia (Offensive Line Coach),  Tom Brady, and Josh McDaniels (Offensive Coordinator). The shot was taken with a Canon 5Ds, EF70-200mm f/4L IS USM @ 160mm, f/10, 1/250″, ISO 320, post processed with DxO Optics Pro 11, Adobe Camera Raw, Photoshop CC, using a Gradient Map, and Nik Color Efex Pro/

Preparing for Travel

It’s been a while since my last post, and the reasons are myriad. However, photographically I have been active in preparing for my two week trip through Italy–from the north to the south.

I have really concentrated on preparing for this shoot (even though it really is a vacation with my wife; more on that later). I have been thinking about equipment, what I want to shoot, scouting out places, and trying to realistically plan on the use of my time (since I will be on a group tour which we all know is probably the worst place to get realistically good photos). This is Growth for me, since I never thought of these elements before.

However, the above impediments have been good in sharpening my senses, judgements, and planning as to how much is realistically possible. That is, do I just want to shoot many photos and hope for the best. Or, do I want to enjoy the time spent in Italy and get a few good to great photos simple because I was perspicacious.

None the less, I did purchase a Platypod Max, since I wanted to have a means to shoot with a tripod without the hassle or inability (to use a tripod) due to local rules in various places. Also, I decided to take more lenses with me, namely, the Canon Ef 50mm 1:1.8 II lens (to use in dark churches,etc.), the Canon 16-35mm 1:4 L IS USM lens (for panos, interior, and some landscape shots), and finally, the Canon EF 24-105 1:4 L IS USM lens (my utility lens for traveling). In addition to these items, I am taking ND filters (10 stop & 15 stop) to try to capture scenes in crowded places (e.g., Venice’s St. Marks Square). Now, this is a lot of equipment for me, but depending on where I’ll be a certain day I’ll just take what I need. The actual amount of equipment  will be carried in a LowePro 180 AW bag, which is quite compact. I may switch the bag to a LowPro BP Runner BP 350 AW II Backpack, but I like compact better.

Developmentally, the above captures where I am at photographically. I believe I am growing skill-wise and becoming more efficient in the use of equipment, method, and time. Now all that is left is: will I enjoy my time in Italy while also getting some good shots. That is my goal.

The posted photo is a shot of the journey up the Douro River in Portugal. The journey is a curious one for it entails a forgotten section of Europe, but at the same time, it is a vibrant section based on history, culture, wine-making, and unspoiled landscape (i.e., not commercialized). The particular shot was in early morning with the typical morning overcast skies in Spring. The camera settings: Canon 5 DS, EF24-105mm @ 50mm,  f/4 L IS USM, f/8.0, 1/320″, ISO 1250, post processed with DxO 11, Canon Camera Raw, and Color Efex Pro.

Photographic Metanoia

Metanoia is a Greek term meaning the changing of one’s mind, spirt, or heart. In other words, it is an about face in the direction one wants to proceed. My latest excursion (aka vacation) into Portugal was the genesis of this metanoia. The trip itself was disappointing from several aspects, of which I will not go into at this time, but the critical factor as far as photography goes, was that the flow and practics of shooting photography were not easily available or present to have me take a good shot. To be specific, these practics included:  many people (literally everywhere all the time), the sense of being rushed, no time to really be in one particular place to become a part of it, being in places in the brightest times of day or having to capture desirable objects from the wrong angle of light or composition, and not having time to reflect on or check one’s camera settings (especially when a transient scene was presenting itself).

Portugal was a beautiful and far less developed or commercialized country, and it had many outstanding vistas and local beauty. But, for the reasons stated above, I regressed in my ability to control not only what I shot but how I shot. I made a serious return to taking blurry or unfocused shots (sometime I was steadily progressing with). That was the most distressing to me, since I was not able to salvage some shots post-processing-wise, since they were blurry.

Consequently, I have arrived at the point in my photography life that I will have to either chuck taking photos on tours and/or develop a shooting strategy more precisely attuned to various situations (this includes my own personal mindset as well as my camera’s settings). Also, I will definitely have to scout out some shots (though, this impossible in most vacation travel, unless I customize the routine), as well as setting up contingency camera settings to fall back on in a hurry. Other than that I will have to steel myself to tune-out distractions as much as possible and also stand still for 2 full seconds whenever I shoot (to eliminate blur/lack of focus).

The posted photo is of a street in Coimbra, Portugal, shot with a Canon 5DS, EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM @ 24 mm, f/10, 1/6″, ISO 100, with a B+W polarizer filter, post processed using DxO Optics Pro, Adobe CR, Nik Color Efex Pro and a gradient map in Photoshop. By the way, this posted shot is nothing extraordinary, but it is, at least, presentable. The point of this post is this: I had to work hard to get this shot to this point in post-processing.

 

Keeping in Shape

Since coming back from my most recent journey to Portugal and the Douro River Valley, life has presented to me many personal challenges, testing my resolve on a day to day basis. Without going into detail these issues have resolved themselves and approximately a month later I have been able to spend more time on photography.

Portugal had left me disappointed in not only opportunities to captures shots, but also in my photographic technique in shooting. I had regressed in not being atuned to the technical aspects  (basic things as aperture, ISO, shutter speed, good posture for sharp photos) and I was lazy in this regard. One could argue that I had other things on my mind, as I had stated in my last post that simply shooting on a regular European tour presents a myriad of challenges not to be taken lightly.

 

In any event, I knew I had to bone up and get back into photographic shape. I have tried to do this over the last week or so by attempting to photograph Beaver Tail Lighthouse (which was the third established lighthouse of the original 13 Colonies). It sits on an “island” (or peninsula) of Jamestown, RI. Needless to say, it is a remote area sitting far out away from the mainland and presenting an atmosphere where one feels attuned to the ocean, sky and elements. In other words, it is a special place of nature. However, it presents challenges since the lighthouse is quite bright in revolving (approx. 5″ on, 2″ off). Also, there is some light pollution, especially at this time of year (summer) since the Milky Way (my object of focus) sits in the SE sky where some light pollution exists.

I had tried photographing the lighthouse in the past and was disappointed since the light was too bright. I quickly realized I had to modify my technique. I had been strategizing on this over the last few months, and finally decided that I needed to just go out and shoot the dame thing. I did so the other night under conditions which I thought were perfect. The previous night I attempted to do this but the bugs of summer (July) were a bit much. So, the following night I put on my hiking bug resistant clothes and bug spray and tried again. It was quite a change since there was a stiffer breeze, clear skies, and moderate temperatures, so an enjoyable evening c. 11 PM presented itself to me.

It became apparent to me that I had to improvise on the basic procedure of shooting the Milky Way (I felt I understood the basic technique after shooting Kilauea Volcano in Hawaii at midnight last year). I used two techniques: 1. that proposed by Starry Landscape Stacker, and 2. the basic starry night technique  (c.25-30″ exposure, f/2.8. ISO 3200) but this time placing my hat on the lens when the lighthouse light turned towards me (c.2″). Both of these techniques had produced acceptable photos. I then tried using SLSS to process the “hat technique”, and the results were also acceptable.

My gut told me, though, that I should simply use the basic technique, and that is what the current post is. That is, the shot was taken with a Canon 5DS, EF16-35mm f/2.8L USM @ 23mm, f/2.8, 15″, ISO 3200, post processed with Adobe Camera Raw, DxO Optics Pro 11, Nik Color Efex Pro.

Scouting…

The other day (mid-April) I decided to further refine my photo skills by doing some scouting for future photo adventures. I did this rarely in the past but have come to see that it is an essential part of setting oneself up for successful photographic shots. [I am trying to develop this skill.]

I ventured to Beavertail, RI which sits on the very tip of the Jamestown Island at the mouth to Narragansett Bay. It is a dramatic location since it gets the full brunt of the forces of nature (wind, waves, and climatic extremes). It is the location of the Beavertail Lighthouse, which was the third lighthouse established by the 13 Colonies in the 18th Century, being known then as the Newport Light.

I have often visited this spot over the last 30+ years for in an odd way it is quite meditative.  One of my physicians who has photography as a hobby had taken a photo of this lighthouse many years ago in a winter snow blizzard. It is one shot I would like to have had a chance to take. As it goes, the location presents opportunity for many great shots, but the challenge is to meld the elements with the lighting conditions which the landscape presents.

I had taken several successful shots over recent years at this location but one type of shot has been eluding me, namely that of the Galactic Core of the Milky Way with the Beavertail Lighthouse in the foreground. The problem is that the Galactic Core requires a long exposure of 25-30 seconds but in doing so the light of the Lighthouse renders this impossible. I naturally would have to take a shot of the lighthouse in good lighting and meld this with the Galactic Core. But, the crux becomes how best to take the shot of the lighthouse to properly blend the lighting conditions with that of the dark night sky. My latest solution is to try to use a neutral density filter near sunset to approximate the light that may occur at a darker hour when the Galactic Core is captured. Stay tuned.

The current photo is a gratuitous one for while I was scouting Beavertail in weather condition which were not friendly (temperatures in the lower forties with 20 mph winds) a gull appeared just in front on me (4-5 feet away probably thinking I would have a slight morsel for it). I took several shots to capture the capriciousness of nature’s elements and life forces. The photo was taken with a Canon 5 DS, EF16-35mm f/4L IS USM @35mm, f/4.0, 1/500″, ISO 100, post-processed with DxO Optics Pro 11, ACR, & Nik Color Efex Pro.

 

Finessing as in Baseball

It’s been a short hiatus in writing to this blog, but it was a productive period beyond what is visible in this media. That is, I have been involved in the real chores of life, as in taking care of our house that Spring has come. That means cleaning, maintenance and refreshing what nature has a way of reducing to the common elements of life. In other words, the chores of life have taken precedent to this Blog.

That does not mean that nothing has been occurring within this photographic soul, just that it has not been communicated.

My main energy has been to try to master Greg Benz’s wonderful Photoshop Extension, Lumenzia. I have found this task challenging, since the extension encompasses many of Photoshop’s most complex features. That means I have to understand the Photoshop feature before I understand Greg’s use of it in Lumensia. That is okay. But, it still is time consuming and challenging to a degree which tests the limits of my skills. However, I am proceeding, but at a reduced rate of accomplishment.

Be that as it may, I offer the currently posted photo of my use of Greg’s Lumensia in a shot of Monet’s Garden in Giverny, France as seen through his house window. The story behind this shot is that it should never have occurred. That is, I was prohibited from taking any photographic shot within the house; I did not realize this; and seconds later was abruptly notified of this fact by an attendant (who obviously was not that attendant).

The photo was taken with a Canon 30D, EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM @ 24mm, f/22, 1/125, 1250 ISO, post processing with DxO OpticsPro 11, Lumenzia, & Color Efex Pro.

[By the way, the title to this post is explained thusly, baseball is the sport of spring and summer, which it currently is. And, baseball being a game of finesse, is placing the little ball just rightly, and hitting it just rightly. Such are the similarities between baseball and photography, since one must get the the shot captured just right, as far as timing, aperture, sensory speed, and composition.]

 

Rediscovering Lumenzia

The spirit of creativity moves in mysterious ways, and it stimulated my soul quite unconsciously, but nevertheless emphatically, to focus once again on luminosity masks. I had discovered the power of luminosity masks in photoshop about two or so years ago, and acquired Greg Benz’s Photoshop Extension, Lumenzia, a year ago. Greg has produced an exceptionally powerful editing program for photoshop that makes the difficult to achieve  fairly easy, if one knows what they are doing.

I have found that Greg’s Lumenzia Program is quite extraordinary, not only in what it is able to accomplish regarding luminosity masks, but he is able to apply these in a full spectrum of editing of photo files. Not only that, but he is constantly updating and refining his creative tools.

Now, I am far from being an ambassador for Lumenzia, but I have to call a spade a spade, and I have used and am beginning to see that what he has created is quite powerful, especially regarding the product cost point.

That being said, I am still in the process of fully trying to utilize the program he has created, but so far believe that I will be using it for some time.

The currently posted photo is of Conimicut Light House in Warwick, RI, being taken in late after noon light in mid January, 2018. It was taken with a Canon 5 DS, f/16, 5.4, ISO 100, EF100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM @ 100mm, post processing with DxO Optics Pro 11, Lumenzia, and Color Efex Pro.