Inshot insight

Without a doubt the iPad is one of the most important purchases I have made as a photographer.

HDR images are always best seen in a large format. The iPad has made client viewing an ‘experience’ for the client. Before now it required positioning a laptop so that everyone can see and moving the clients through the images, more of a detached feel. Now they hold the image interacting with the images, enjoying the familiar sensation we get from holding a print.

The viewing of the portfolio has taken one of the most exciting and energetic jumps. Pitch that with productivity apps like Time Master, Easy Release ….. And the photographer is more dynamic than ever.

Plus the aching shoulder from the laptop bag has gone!

Sure there are things that we some would like changed. More than one app open at a time etc.. maybe. It is still one of the most desired and exciting pieces of technology ever.

Gadget, tool or toy you can’t help but be drawn to it.

I love to try and combine different techniques and see what happens.

Orton Angel

This image started as a 3 shot HDR.  I then came across the Orton technique by chance while flicking through a non photo magazine in the library, it’s amazing what you find while waiting for your kids to choose another pile of books.  

So straight on to google when I got home and I began to research a little more. I loved the way that the technique made the colours so vivid and the life it brought to the pictures.

I was already happy with the Angel, but decided to see what imapct it would have. The greens of the foliage seem to be pouring off the picture and the definition of the angel is significantly improved without any increase in noise. 

I hope you like her as much as I do.

Probably since the dawn of the digital camera and photoshop, this question regularly comes up. So why have I come up with it? I hear you ask.  I assure you my reasons are genuine. I am also very pleased with the result.

The following shot is a single RAW shot HDR.

SBR Suzuki Promo

My target for the day was to finish with images that could be used in promotional publications for the sponsors. The Team Suzuki image shown earlier is one that was used as it showed the AGV/Nationwide Sponsor well.

The other high profile sponsor that I needed to show was Suzuki. It was a 4 day meeting and within the first hour of being out scouting the track I knew where the shot needed to be. On the opposite side of the back straight there was a Suzuki billboard. It was about 20 metres away and angled away from the track. But I knew with a little patience I could work out the correct angle and speed of pan to line up the unit and billboard. While I was timing my panning speed another photographer, complete with copious amounts of lenses  and monopods hanging from his belt, approached inquiring about what I was up to. After describing my planned outcome he stood for a moment and proclaimed that he couldn’t be bothered going to such lengths just to get the right shot. His answer was what “he did all the time” – two shots and cut out the bit you want and add it to the other. He scoffed at the thought of not using the preset functions and shooting in RAW instead of jpg and left.

Please don’t misunderstand, I am far from being a photo purist or ‘pixel pincher’ but I do believe in the idea of getting it right in camera rather than always relying on photoshop to tidy up or make the image. I enjoy the process of the challenge set, proving to myself that it can be done. Using my equipment and resources to accomplish the desired result. I was even fun during the down times with the race team and pit crew as they listened to me voicing my frustration that I was still about half a wheel length out. Then joning in later with my elation that I got it.

So what am I saying here – yes I know, sorry this has been a long one – to  sum it up I have to use a quote that I first heard on a tfttf  podcast by Chris Marquardt - it goes something like this -

‘Pictures are created through practice not purchase’.

It has taken me a little while to think about this. One month ago, Sunday25th April was Anzac Day. So at 5am my family and I attended the dawn rememberance parade.  Certainly a time for reflection. Army, Navy and Air cadets were on duty as cenotaph guard, standing absolutely still to attention in front of thousands of people there to pay their respects. It was during the quiet reflective moments between speeches that I realised what it was that was bothering me. Camera flashes. I considered it for a moment and decided that you could probably capture quite an emotional image; the young cadet in front of the cenotaph head bowed in respect.  So when was it a shot too far I hear you cry? These were the ones taken by people during the “Last Post”. This is probably the time when emotions are at their highest. I believe there is a right and wrong time to capture a moment. Here is a moment I captured at the Boxing Day Cemetery Circuit races in 2008.

Bryce Meads Cemetery Circuit 08

The unlucky rider is Bryce Meads. On the overbridge corner he hit the hay bales and was catapulted from his bike, hitting the fence on the otherside of the barrier. Racing was delayed for quite some time while Paramedics attended to him. It was during this period that a fellow photographer kept snapping, getting between the ambulance crew to ‘get that shot’. All I could think was ‘what shot?’ The intrusion on the rider’s situation was inexcusable. Am I the only one with this thought?

I am happy (and relieved) to say that Steve was absolutely knocked sideways. A real success. Let me know what you think.

Team Suzuki HDR promotion image

What did I do…… I generated a pseudo HDR image from a single RAW file. Extracted unwanted areas, a bit of obvious beveling, then a little darkening overlay on the background and a touch of highlighting over the bike just to bring it out a bit. Hope you like it. The most difficult part was finding a font to match the Suzuki decals. After a lot of searching I settled on Swiss721.

Here we have the PS Waimarie moored in Upokongaro. A 3 shot HDR using minimal tone mapping adjustment to enhance realistic colour tone.

PS Waimarie HDR

 3 shot HDR. Waimarie Paddle Steamer, Whanganui River

How profound a subject line. Surely one good deed couldn’t be jinxed! No is the answer just sit back, slow down and think. Prints came out perfect and I am phoning the client/ new friend later to sort out delivery. I only hope he is as happy as I am with the result. After I have delivered it I’ll post it here for everyone to view (I think it’s only fair he sees it first).

Just why is it so? From frustration to laughing at myself. The simple task of a printing an image with text to present as a gift to a local racing team can go so wrong. Attempt one – fonts didn’t print, attempt two – whoops I miscalculate - attempt three – dark. Tomorrow I slow myself down and do it properly! All to present a gift.

My wife says that I have a visual brain. I have always had a love of images, not necessarily just photos but graphics and artworks. Since my early teens I have always found the album cover just as stimulating, exciting and interesting as the music I was listening to. A couple of years ago I decided that I needed to change my path. Photography came to my aid. I did a correspondence course which helped to reinforce some knowledge that I had. From there I was up and running. The course had an added bonus of igniting my desire to learn and extend boundaries. Discovering techniques and styles that many other photographers hadn’t adopted. About a year ago I came across High Dynamic Range (HDR) and I was hooked. A technique that seems to have a controversial edge to it; making it even more exciting to me.  I love the versatility of HDR. From the artistic styles to subtle, gentle adjustments to create realism.

As the title suggests this is an invitation to you to join me while I build my business. Watch from the sides and enjoy the ride or throw me a suggestion or two.  Smile at my highs then sigh and empathise during the lows. My intention is to use this blog to share not only my experiences but also, and more importantly images. The front page image will change periodically and I’ll keep posting new images here. I’m so excited about the coming years and where it can take us.