Comparison – Photogeek Blog

Before and After

As much as I’ve benefited, and love the process of coming home, uploading the day’s images, and applying the basic editing tools I’ve learned over the years. Those skills are basic at best. Removing objects is something I’m pretty heavy-handed at. Thankfully, when the need calls. I have a long-time friend who is kind enough to step in and apply his magic. In this case, a recent thunderstorm interfering with our trip to Philadelphia’s Woodlands. My focus on the middle figure was crashed by two uninvited figures. I was incredibly grateful when this friend agreed to work his sorcery and twice as impressed upon seeing the results. Slowly, but surely, I’m learning new applications in Adobe Lightroom. And while I try and hope to get things right when shooting. Know how to use the tools at my disposal.

The Joy of Printing

Art, Beauty, Comparison, Digital Printing, Enlargements, Industrial Photography, Landscape Photography

After a long day of MRIs and X-rays at Baltimore’s John Hopkins University, some lackluster service at a local restaurant, and worse, the unusual bumper to bumper traffic while returning to Virginia. I stopped at New Arlington’s District Camera to pick up several images I had sent in for printing. During the three or so years I’ve been in VA. I’ve depended almost entirely on the camera stores service for all my photography needs. The attention to customer service, detail and quality has been unrivaled since day one.

Upon arriving home, I more carefully, then usual, opened the envelope to view my prints. Thus returning me to the joy associated printing my images. The difference between seeing something on a computer screen and the absolute thrill of holding something in your hands. It’s magic. The colors, detail and depth in Black and white prints . It returns you to the lost beauty that photography always offered. So going forward, I urge you and myself to find a reliable lab, darkroom and/or printer to print your favorite images. I also suggest finding a place to display and share them with others.

With a Little Help from my Friend.

Beach People, Comparison, Editing, Friendship, Life is a Beach, RAW Files

Last week I shared several pictures taken while exploring a Baltimore beach. My wife took a liking to the picture on the left. Adding “I really like this one, but I think it would look better without the automobile.” With little to no experience in many Lightroom techniques. I handed it over to a good friend who can best be disguised as a “pro’s pro.” Personally, I’d consider my long time friend to be a magician of sorts. As he has blown my mind with his skills many times before. I posted a before and after just below. I’d love to get your feedback. Feel free to comment below. Thanks.

Going Mirrorless

Canon lenses and equipment, Comparison, Finding your Zen

After about a year of grueling research on You Tube and just about every outlet available. I’ve decided to make the move from DSLR to Mirrorless. As someone who’s always been slow when it came to warming up to new technology. It has often taken time and a little push to get on board with the the new flavors of the decade. As someone who went from a film enthusiast to a digital warhorse. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the different stages and steps I’ve made along the way. So, after much thought. I’ll be heading to the local photo warehouse this weekend, to trade in some of my old gear and purchase the Canon Mirrorless R6 kit that includes the 24-105 mm lens. You can expect many images and reportage on the results and overall experience in the mirrorless universe. However, I more than hope to take the time to get to know my cameras settings and whatchacallits. Until then.

Below is a Peter McKinnon (My personal favorite Photographer/Blogger.) video review of the Canon R6.

With a Little Help from my Friends.

Comparison, Finding Solutions, Finding your Zen, Happiness, Location Shooting

I’ll admit it, I know nothing, nor have I ever spent much time working to up my photoshop game. If you’re a photoshop fixer-upper, I applaud you. Leave your contact information and rates in the comment section. Sooner or later, I’ll be contacting you. I never had the time, patience, or skill s to master the art of retouching. Instead, I try to get it right the first time and make any needed adjustments in Lightroom later.

While unearthing images from my earlier days, I surprisingly still find pictures I love. The image below is a long time favorite. Shot in NYC on Pier 84 just blocks from my apartment on W48th st. Over the years, the tag on Charo’s bra became more and more of an eyesore. So much so that I put in a call for a photoshop minded editor on one of my social media pages. Luckily, a long time friend, one who’s friendship predates this ’97 photo. Stepped in and remedied a twenty-plus year issue in a matter of minutes. In the end, I wanted to thank that friend while sharing the before and after. If I ever find myself in a bind with a photograph or anything in general, I won’t hesitate to reach out.

Filter Find

Comparison, Light Modifiers, Manual Mode, Photo Filters

I was going through a container of random photo accessories I had acquired over the last twenty of so years. There were useful, easily identifiable items such as batteries and SD cards to remnants of my film camera days and a few “WTF is that?” items. Within the container was a group of 72mm Tiffen filters I don’t recall purchasing or even using. Being that they fit my Canon 28-135 lens, I decided to try out my unused Polarizors. Below are the results of my findings.

Exploring AV Mode

Canon lenses and equipment, Comparison, Pacific Northwest

Over the years, I’ve experimented with all the available modes and functions of my Canon. However, the AV mode (Apeture Value) is, by far, the least explored. Aperature Mode is an important feature that allows you to choose your f stop while the camera typically chooses the ISO. Choosing this mode is great for a bokeh effect, which a term for blurring your background. It should be noted that the smaller the aperature number the larger the shutter opening and vice versa. Simply put, f 1.8 is a lot bigger than f 22. Below are several mid day images I took from the balcony. The first and third were taken of the North West and the second of the North East.

Photographing Sunsets on TV Mode

Canon Lenses, Canon lenses and equipment, Comparison, Photosharing, Sunsets

Understanding full well that my obsession with running out on the balcony or up to the roof to watch/photograph the sunset each night will eventually fade. I’ve taken to abandoning my camera’s priority mode while switching to manual focus on my lenses. Though manual mode is, by far, the best way to learn. With limited time and a plate of homemade tacos waiting for me on the inside, I switched to TV mode, changing my shutter speed with each image. Those unfamiliar with TV mode allow you to change your camera’s shutter speed and let you play around with the amount of time. Giving you the power to create a sense of motion in your images. Below are a couple of pictures and their settings. As you can see, their taken from very different ends of the spectrum, yet the results are similar.

Recapturing a Moment

Canon Lenses, Canon lenses and equipment, Comparison, Digital Printing, Seattle

I’ve been moaning and groaning over accidentally deleting the original image I took (just below.)) with my iphone when we first moved to Columbia City in Seattle.

So this Sunday after washing the car and stopping at a local Buddhist temple. We returned to Billiard Hoang to try to recapture the lost image in order to finally capture another unguarded moment. One the might finally bring some peace to my troubled mind while ordering a couple of the best bahn mi this side of the planet. Not wanting to be intrusive or step on anyone’s feet. I found a similar spot to rest my camera and made sure to remove the flash. Though the results were pretty good. (No complaints on my part.) I really wish I had a larger file size of the original image in order to print one of those gigantic metal prints. And while the new ones I took todqy are okay. I feel it might take a few more visits before I capture something worthy of printing.

Billiard II-1.jpg

To Vashon and Back

Canon Lenses, Canon lenses and equipment, Comparison, Seattle

I’ve been planning a trip back to Vashon with my wife all week, The chance to take the ferry and making a micro visit to a not so far away destination appealed to both of us on different levels. On our first trip, we enjoyed some very good baked goods at Snapdragon Bakery and Cafe. A basket of awfully greasy and stomach turning fried food at Zombies and a relaxing finale at The Vashon Island Coffee Rotisserie. This time around. We swore off the deep fried temptations and gave Snapdragon’s breakfast menu and dining a try. Turns out that was another bad decision on our part. As it took them over an hour to make us a couple of plates of eggs. Considering we had to bus and clean our own table, beg on all fours for refills on our coffee and ask for a refund on the order we placed more than an hour before. It’s safe to say. We won’t be going back. And while I won’t ignore the draw to visit the Island again. We will surely do so on full stomachs. Posted are images I took from the ferry. The first was taken around 11;00 am during some hard light. The second, around 4:00pm, just prior to our trip back.

Vashon Noon.jpg