You don’t have to be a New Yorker to appreciate the 900,000 plus images available online through the NYC Department of Records archives. Some are photographs of well-known icons like the Statue of Liberty and the Brooklyn Bridge, while others are Wee Gee-esque in their grit or as mundane as photos documenting local school buildings. Many of the images date back to the late 1800s. Learn more
News: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)
[ By WebUrbanist in Art & Photography & Video. ]
Spanning multiple feet in each direction, these giant-sized photo prints transform the light and color of ordinary sunset scenes, reflecting them through a chaotic lens of unpredictable distortions.
Bing Wright, a New York photographer, exhibited this series of abstract stained-glass-like landscapes of water, trees, clouds and sky earlier this year at the Paula Cooper Gallery.
Titled Broken Mirror /Evening Sky, the set represents a break from his black-and-white work of the past decade, dealing with issues of “depth of field, scale, surface and materiality” and of course: color.
The result is a disjointed set of overlapping refractions and out-of-focus subjects that our mind then works to piece back together, and which compels us to consider the color before completely comprehending the composition.
About the artist: “Bing Wright was born in Seattle in 1958 and received a Bachelor of Arts in Art History from Columbia University, New York. His work been shown in exhibitions at the New Museum, New York; White Columns, New York; the Queens Museum of Art, New York; and the Tang Museum and Art Gallery, Saratoga Springs, among others.”
Something about the vibrant colors, stark contrasts and vivid depths lends abandonments to pictures using HDR photography techniques like few other subjects.
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There is simply no way to see the starry skies above the typical urban metropolis – but one photographer has found a way to simulate the stunning potential …
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While dealing with an oppressive government and mental illness, this incredible artist created a body of work unlike any other in the world.
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[ By WebUrbanist in Art & Photography & Video. ]
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UHPinions provides “real – ridiculous – reviews” found on sites such as Amazon and Yelp for your enjoyment.
Do you want to enjoy loose-leaf tea that is the “best thing since the invention of fire”? Looking to buy a beard wash for a beard that has people thinking “that dude probably builds radical decks and sturdy fences to keep wolves and bears out”? Or are you looking for a new laptop that “can be used as [a] homeplate for a local little league baseball game provided the umpire has completed the proper training”?
Reviews for these and other products are available at UHPinions, a website that grabs reviews from sites such as Amazon and Yelp, displaying them for your amusement. Reviews are divided into categories such as “cars and motorsports”, “electronics”, and “hotels and travel”, plus you can browse “best”, “favorite”, or random reviews. And if you find an interesting review not already online, you’re free (and encouraged) to submit it….
Read more at MalekTips.
New Computer and Technology Help and Tips – MalekTips.Com
Dass Treppen nicht bloß funktional dazu dienen, um in Gebäuden von einer Etage auf die nächste zu kommen, hat der Fotograf Steve Simon verstanden. Als architektonische Elemente werden sie mitunter räumlich als materialisiertes Sinnbild für Bewegung inszeniert.
Welche ästhetische Qualität dieses Spiel hat, zeigt uns Steve anhand seiner Serie, deren Leitbild die Konzentration auf die wesentlichen Formen ist. Mit weitwinkligen Perspektiven entlang der Treppenachsen erzeugt er eine Dynamik, die die „eingefrorene“ Bewegung betont.
Wenn er auf seiner Suche nach neuen dankbaren Exemplaren fündig wird, wählt er für seine Aufnahmen nicht selten den Blick von unten nach oben. Da die Ausbeute an natürlichem Licht im Erdgeschoss der Treppenhäuser mitunter recht spärlich ist, wird fast immer die Nutzung eines Stativs notwendig.
Manchmal legt er sich aber auch auf den Boden, um den am besten geeigneten Blickwinkel zu finden. Bei so viel Hingabe hat er dann nicht selten die erstaunten Blicke Treppensteigender auf seiner Seite.
Mehr von Steves Treppenbildern sowie weitere seiner Arbeiten findet Ihr auf seiner Webseite.
kwerfeldein – Fotografie Magazin | Fotocommunity
Leica has announced the T-System, a mirrorless interchangeable lens camera system with autofocus. The first camera in the system, the Leica T, features a 16MP APS-C sensor. Two lenses – an 18-56mm F3.5-5.6 and a 23mm F2 prime have been announced alongside the camera, with the promise of an 11-23mm F3.5-4.5 wide-angle zoom and 55-135mm F3.5-4.5 telezoom to follow. The camera is milled from a solid billet of aluminum and features a touchscreen that the company says uses a user-friendly operating concept. An optional electronic viewfinder provides an alternative to the 3.7″ LCD.
News: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)
Every so often I get an email from a blog reader asking “if there is one accessory that you would recommend for long exposure photography, what would it be?”
I wish the answer was a simple one, but of course it is not.
There are so many accessories that I carry every time I go making long exposure photographs. There are also many accessories I carry on a regular basis no matter what, and some I carry here and there depending on the location. So with that all said, here are some of my favorite items, and must have accessories for long exposure photography.
It all starts with comfortable shoes because you will likely be standing for a while or walking around excessively. I personally wear Under Armour sneakers, that were designed for the New York City police department, because they are extremely comfortable and made for officers to be on their feet all day. They also have the traction when needed, like in sand or on wet pavement.
However, when I know that I will be photographing extremely close, if not in, water then I do not use those sneakers. At that point I switch to standard waterproof boots or just remove the sneakers and go in barefoot. Wearing non-waterproof shoes while getting your feet wet is a horrible feeling. So be mindful of your surroundings as Master Yoda says.
A cable release is pretty much a “must have” for long exposure photography. After 30 seconds most cameras do not have the necessary shutter speeds built-in to capture the scene, through a thick neutral density filter like a 10-stop.
I’ve been surrounded by photographers who use cheap off-brand cable releases that stop working after the first use. I’ve also seen fancy intervalometers run out of batteries, making the cable release a dangling useless piece of plastic.
So my backup plan is a cable from Trigger Happy. The beauty is that it’s a thin, lightweight, cable that can easily be packed in any bag or pocket. You then connect it through the headphone jack of your phone (iPhone or Android) and have a cable release that way. Triggertrap is another amazing mobile cable release brand and many times I will switch between apps because the Trigger Happy cable works fantastic with Triggertrap as well.
This is too easy to forget. You wake up super early for sunrise or head out the door just before sunset, hoping to catch that last bit of glow in a glorious long exposure. But then you get to the location and realize, “Holy smokes I didn’t eat anything.”
So this way too often overlooked meal bar idea is a must have no matter what. I even recommend this for standard exposure shooting, on photowalks, or wherever. Having at least one meal bar can boost your energy and fill that hunger craving.
Going along with the meal bar idea is a water bottle. Depending on where you are shooting, stores may not be an option for grabbing a quick thirst quencher. There are also those eco-conscious photographers out there (including myself) that prefer not buying a throw away water bottle.
Typically I carry a Nalgene water bottle that has a decent size loop at the top. Using a carabiner it is attached to my belt or bag so that I’m not physically carrying it, but it’s always with me.
A rain cover is one of those accessories that I have whether I’m photographing long exposures or anything else. I personally use the Think Tank Photo rain covers, but there are so many awesome ones out there including the OP/TECH plastic covers which I consider emergency products.
Although many modern mirrorless and DSLR cameras contain weather sealing (check your manual if you aren’t sure if yours has it or not), they are not waterproof and can still be impacted by the rain. So having the ability to throw a rain cover over your camera can help ensure that the camera lasts a very long time.
Another rain cover option is the Storm Jacket by Vortex Media.
Going along with the rain cover is a lens cloth. If you are going between cold and warm temperatures then your camera will fog up for a bit. If it’s raining then you will likely have water droplets on your neutral density filters. So having a simple lens cloth with you is good to wipe the fog or droplets from the filters.
Another product I keep with me during the colder seasons, is a cold weather mask. More specifically, this one from Under Armour. The reason I like this one is because it can squeeze into the same pouch as my Think Tank Photo rain cover. Additionally, the mask covers enough of my head and face to keep me warm. Of course, if it’s a super cold day like in a “polar vortex” then I would of course prepare for that in addition to the weather mask.
Most tripods with a center column have a hook underneath which makes it easy to hang something weighted. Tripods without a center column usually have an option to attach a hook underneath as well.
The reason you want to weigh down your tripod is because of the extended shutter time. If you accidentally touch your tripod you could move it by accident. So weighing down the tripod can help prevent unintentional movement, thus saving your long exposure.
I’m not saying to bring a heavy weight with you. Instead I’m saying to use your camera bag. You will likely have enough gear in the bag that can make a good 5-10 lb (2.3-4.6 kg) weight. Use the tripod hook and a loop on your bag to create the weight.
This one should be a no brainer but you’ll be surprised how many photographers forget to carry extra batteries. Always keep in mind that the longer the shutter speed, the more your battery will drain. I tend to carry three batteries with me, at a minimum. Usually one in the camera body and two extras in my bag.
Yup, you read that right. You won’t be making a presentation while you wait for your ten minute exposure to finish. But, depending on how dark it is outside and how dark your neutral density filter is, a red laser pointer can help you find a place to focus. If you know a tree is in the distance, put the dot on the tree and focus on it.
You might be wondering why I recommend a laser point rather than a flashlight. A flashlight is also a good idea, but a laser pointer is lighter and can travel in a much further distance than the average flashlight.
Your mobile devices drain very fast. Especially if you are using an App like PhotoPills to calculate exposures or find the right spot for sunset. Or, if you are using your phone as a cable release as mentioned above, then your battery will drain much faster. So I highly recommend having a battery backup.
I typically carry two with me at all times. One has two USB ports, allowing me to help charge a friend’s phone also if needed. The other is the Bolt which was a Kickstarter project. I keep that one as well because it’s lightweight, small and doubles as a wall charger.
Before I finish up this article I want to share a shooting tip for long exposure photographs. Quite often I see photographs where the sky and water is so smooth, which is fantastic. Many times the exposures are spot on and the post processing is beautiful and tasteful. However, sometimes there is something missing from the composition. That being, a point of focus.
Long exposure photographs are some of my favorite types to make and view. However, with such smooth, ghosted and blurred subjects in the scene, not having something in focus can really make a viewer’s eye wonder.
So instead of just capturing a scene of full motion, try to include an object in perfect focus. Stop people’s eyes from wondering and give them a starting point.
Do you have any other long exposure photography tips or accessories to sure? Please do so in the comments below.
The post 11 Accessories for Long Exposure Photography by Scott Wyden Kivowitz appeared first on Digital Photography School.
No one will deny that Leica cameras are expensive. But there’s more to the cost than just that red dot on the front. Each of the company’s new ‘T’ mirrorless cameras are built by hand in Germany with incredible precision. View the transformation from aluminum brick to finished product. We’ve just updated this slideshow with some insights from Leica’s head of product management, Stefan Daniel. Click through to see (and read) more.
News: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)
Communicate with people across time zones? Make two additional clocks available with a mouse hover over the Windows 8.1 Taskbar clock.
Do you often need to communicate with co-workers, extended family, or friends that live across the country or world? Stop waking them up at odd hours of the night or sending them an electronic mail or Skype request by not knowing their local time zone.
Two additional time zones can be added to the Windows 8.1 Desktop Taskbar, accessible by hovering over the clock. Clicking on the clock can display larger clocks of each configured time zone….
Read more at MalekTips.
New Computer and Technology Help and Tips – MalekTips.Com
Leica’s new T (Typ 701) is the company’s first mirrorless interchangeable lens camera with autofocus. While its ‘guts’ aren’t much different than other cameras in its class, the hand-built body is all Leica. We’ve been able to spend some quality time with the German manufacturer’s latest baby, and have put together our first impressions of it. Find out what we think of it thus far.
News: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)
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