5DMKII, 24-70mm, 4s at f/5.6, ISO 100.
The Empire State Building Celebrates Pride. Such an electric time here in NY!
I snapped this through a window without a tripod, so it was a little blurry. I sharpened it in post and dodged the sky to bring out the clouds.
5DMKII + 24-70 f/2.8, Photomatix HDR.
It is a rare thing when the sun and the clouds come together in such a spectacular way. It’s even more rare that you happen to be standing in the perfect location with your camera in your hands and your batteries are charged :)
It’s time like these that make me perfectly content. Last month I was in Orlando, Florida for the Mashable Connect Conference. I was blessed with a room at the Contemporary Resort with a spectacular view of the Magic Kingdom. I snapped a picture of this view every day I was there, but none of them came out because the weather was either hazy, too bright, or cloudless and flat. I was almost going to give up on this shot, but the day before I was due to leave, a storm started building and produced some of the most spectacular clouds I’ve ever seen. I perched myself on the balcony and waited until the perfect moment and snapped this. I missed dinner, but it was worth it :)
This shot is made of 3 photos combined in Photomatix. I then used Photoshop to add more contrast, definition and warmth.
iPhone 4, Camera+, Clarity, HDR, Cross Process, thin black frame.
I’m Canadian, but I have two British parents. In my mind, this makes me mostly British, so I thought in honour of the Royal fever sweeping over the entire interwebs, I thought it would be fun to post a few pictures from my trip to London earlier this year where I visited many famous spots. :)
Harrods Double Decker Bus Bokeh.
5DMKII+16-35mm. 1/60 at f/2.8, IS0 2000.
Westminster Abbey.
5DMKII+ 16-35mm, 4, 8, & 15s at f/8.0, ISO 100 using Photomatix.
Golden Jubilee Bridge & the London Eye.
16-35mm. 6s at f/8.0, ISO 100.
iPhone 4, Camera+u, Contessa wi/ Vintage Frame.
Houses of Parliament.
3 shots combined in Photomatix 8s, 10s, 15s, f/8.0, ISO 100.
London Eye.
iPhone 4, Camera+, Clarity + Cross Process + Vibrant.
Buckingham Palace.
5DMKII+16-35mm, 15s at f/9.0, ISO 100.
While I’m not too keen on watching the wedding itself, I’ll be really interested to see both the official wedding photos and all the unofficial photos of the celebration. If you happen to be in London town, make sure you get out and get some shots and share them with all of us!
5DMKII+16-35mm, 1/80 at f/3.5, ISO 2000.
I took this during my last trip to Las Vegas for the Mostly Photo walk in the opulent Venetian Hotel. So much gold!!! :P I didn’t have my tripod so I hand-held this shot. I used Lightroom to decrease some of the noise I got from using ISO 2000, then I took the one photo into Photoshop where I spend close to 2 hours cloning, healing and masking out crowds of people from the shot. It took forever, but with the crowds of people the shot looked really messy.
I then took the shot into Photomatix and applied tone mapping to draw some details. The two major problem areas that arise from tone mapping one image is noise and lack of contrast, so I usually reduce the noise and increase contrast in Lightroom. I also increased the saturation of the blues and red accents.
Here’s a short video of our amazing Mostly Photo Walk in Las Vegas!
5DMKII+16-35mm, 1/640 at f/5.0, ISO 100.
Snap of the Bellagio Fountains during the day. I got sucked in for a few shows…. somehow it never gets old. I think I almost prefer this reverse vantage point of the fountains with the faux fabulous Paris in the back…
I also love the subtle rainbow that appears in the water spray. What does it mean?
5DMKII + 16-35mm, 1/40 @ f/3.2, ISO 1250.
I took this during my Mostly Photo Walk in Vegas on Monday during NAB. Such a bizarre scene… oh Vegas… and yet the last time I met a Stormtrooper was during the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver!
Also, just letting you know that my next photo walk is in NYC on Saturday, April 23, 2011 at 4:00 PM. Meet me at the Apple Store on 5th Ave for tons of photography.
Follow me on Twitter for up-to-date info.
5DMKII+16-35mm, 1/8 at f/5.0, ISO 100.
I always post my photos on Flickr, Facebook, Camplus… but never on my blog, so I thought I’d start to share more of my shots here, for those of you that still use a feed reeder :P
Vegas is certainly an interesting place to shoot. There is no shortage of colourful venues… The Venetian is perhaps my favourite place to shoot… It’s so faux fabulous in such a deliciously tacky way, you can’t help but snap hundreds of picts.
The lighting was uber crappy and dark, so I actually set up a 3 exposure HDR shot, but there was too much movement with the two boats, so I ended up using the darkest shot and fake HDR’d it in PS. The image isn’t tack sharp… something I couldn’t see in frame when I shot it, but I can’t go back now, so I’ll have to live with it… curse my perfectionism :|
5DMKII+ 100mm f/2.8 L, 1/40 at f/8.0, ISO 500
Photographers have a fantastic chance to capture a 14% fuller moon this weekend, so I thought I’d quickly post a few tips on how to get great supermoon shots!
1. Capture the moon is when it is close to the horizon
The best time to capture the moon is during moonrise when the moon is closest to the horizon line. This is considered the moon’s “Magic Hour” and gives you the best opportunity to grab a shot of the moon in a surrounding landscape with some sunlight. It’s also the best time to get interesting cloud cover over the moon and to capture a more orange coloured moon. You can use this site to find out when the moonrise is where you plan to shoot.
2. Place the moon in a scene
Unless you have a super telephoto lens, taking a shot of just the moon itself in the middle of the sky won’t be compelling. Instead, capture the moon as it rises over a scenic landscape or city scape. If you are in the country side, capture the moon as it peeks through large, gnarled trees, or over hills and mountains. If you live by the sea side, grab a shot of the moon and it’s reflection as it rises over the ocean. City folk, can get amazing shots of the moon rising between buildings or over bridges.
3. Use a long lens
If you have a telephoto lens that’s 200mm or longer, now is the time to use it. If you want the moon all in focus, make sure you set your aperture to f/8.0 or narrower. My longest lens is the 100mm f/2.8, so I have to be a bit more creative. If you are dealing with a shorter lens, focus more on the moon within a scene than the moon itself.
5DMKII + 100mm f/2.8, 2.5sec at f/4.5, ISO 640
4. Use a tripod
Say no to blurry moon shots! Use a tripod. If you don’t have one, find a post, ledge or something to lean your camera against. A shutter release trigger is always handy, but if you don’t have one you can always use timer mode to avoid camera shake.
5. Use low ISO and a long exposure
To minimize noise, set your ISO as low as you can go. Try to stay under ISO 800 if you can and use your shutter speed to compensate. If you are shooting at moonrise you won’t need to do an exposure longer than about 2 seconds. In the dead of night, it might be longer. Don’t go beyond 25 seconds or you will get star trails and slight movement with the moon that can cause blurriness.
6. Use AEB bracketing for a supermoon HDR
Set your dSLR to auto bracketing and set it to -2/+2. Set your camera to 2 second timer mode. When you hit the shutter button it will automatically take the three shots sequentially. If you don’t know how to do this, pry open that coffee cup stained camera manual of yours, or google it :P By taking 3 shots, you’ll be able to capture a lot more detail in the foreground. Make sure you set your camera to spot metering for the best results.
7. Avoid digital zoom on point and shoots
Digital zoom on point and shoots and camera phones generally creates a pixelated hot mess. It’s better to take the shot full size and then crop in post.
8. Use live view to get focus
Switch on live view, zoom in on the moon, and grab focus on Manual mode. You might have to increase your ISO so that you can see the moon to get focus. Once you have focus, switch to camera mode and change your settings back. I find this the easiest way to get focus.
I hope this helps encourage you to get out and shoot. Now get out there and get some great shots of the supermoon!
Taking a photo everyday can be a daunting task, but as I look back over the last 20 days worth of shots I’ve taken for my Mostly365 challenge I am really proud of the results. To keep everyone inspired I’m giving you 16 photo project suggestions for your 365!
1. Self portraits
50 f/1.4, 1/30 @ f/2.8, ISO 640.
Give people a glimpse at the artist behind the camera and take a self-portrait. You can do a classic camera-in-hand mirror snap like mine, or get creative and put your camera on a tripod, set a timer, and run in a wheat field. There are so many options for creative shots and the best thing about you being the model is you can take your shot whenever you like and take as long as you want snapping it!
2. Moon shots
Bay Bridge, SF. 5DMKII+ 100mm f/2.8 L, 1/40 at f/8.0, ISO 500.
There are many faces of the moon and almost all of them make for spectacular photos. If you happen to own a long or telephoto lens put it to good use and grab some stunning shots. If not, consider renting one for your dSLR and go on a special nighttime shoot and capture both the moon and stars. You can even share the rental cost between friends and make a fun night of it.
You’d also be surprised at the shots you can get with your camera phone. Just make sure you prop your phone on something stable while you take your shot.
3. Nature Macros
Dew drops on grass.
There is so much beauty out there — leaves in puddles, dew drops on grass, snowflakes on tree branches. Head outside and capture all the little details of nature. Try shooting with a really shallow depth of field (f/2 and lower) to get dreamy artistic shots.
4. Portraits
5DMKII, 85mm f/1.8, 1/200 @ f/2.8, ISO 100.
I am most passionate about taking portraits. From candid street photos shots, to strobe light lit creatives, to magic hour back lit shots, the possibilities are endless. The only problem is you need a subject. If you are blessed with an understanding and patient partner or family member, start practicing taking portraits of them. If you are feeling a bit more bold, you can always head out on the street and try to get some candids of people walking by or even ask strangers to pose for you.
If you are looking to photograph the attractive sort then you can try finding a model through ModelMayhem.com (more tips on photographinc models here) or pester some of your good-lookin’ Facebook friends. Almost everyone wants a great Facebook profile shots, so offer to give them a nice shot for their time. More tips on taking great portraits.
5. Fun Macros
5DMKII+100 f/2.8, 1/200 at f/4.5, ISO 125 + 430EX double CTO gel.
During bad weather days, dig around in your house for a fun little toy, keepsake or gadget to snap. You can light your subject with strobes to get a bit more creative, or just position your toy in front of a large day lit window and get great natural light.
6. Musical Performances
Florence + the Machine NYE at the Cosmopolitan, 1/60 at f/3.2, ISO 1600.
Every time you are out at a show grab a shot. Taking photos at concerts was actually how I started working as a photographer and all I had was my little Canon Rebel Xti and the 50mm f/1.4. Often, you aren’t able to bring dSLRs into concerts, so make sure you can before you head out. If you aren’t allowed to bring your gear, try to grab a shot with your camera phone or small point and shoot.
7. Your City’s Landmarks through the Seasons
Union Square heart, SF. 16-35mm, 1/80 at f/4.0, ISO 4000
Every city has it’s famous landmarks. Set a goal to capture 10 of most interesting over the course of the year, and take a shot of each landmark during the 4 seasons. Imagine a a collection of shots of the same statue during fall, winter, spring and summer seasons. For more variation, you can take a shot during the day, night or sunrise and sunset. It’s always good to have your camera on you whenever you go out in your city, so that if you see a good lighting situation you can grab a quick shot!
8. Bokeh shots
Bokeh shots are always fun to shoot whether you set up little lights behind your subject like I did here or just use what’s in your environment. This is another great project for a rainy day. You can also get great bokeh with street or building lights at night.
9. Architecture & Building shots
The Plaza Hotel, NYC. 5DMKII, 16-35mm f/2.8, 1/125 at f/3.2, ISO 4000.
Head to your local museum, parliament building, or city sites with interesting architecture. A wide angle lens from 15mm to 35mm is ideal for this type of photography. Most kit lenses fit the bill. Obviously a really wide angle like the 16-35mm or even a fish-eye yield the most interesting results. But, if you don’t have a wide angle lens, then focus on capturing the details. Close-ups of pillars, doorways, or statues can make cool shots.
10. Landscapes
Oxbow Bend, Grand Tetons. Xti, 7s at f/, ISO 100.
If you live near nature or are taking a trip out of the city then make sure you take some shots of breathtaking landscapes. Old roads winding through snowy fields, mountains jutting up into cloudy skies, or majestic trees lining a sunken vallies all make great photos. Pay attention to your composition and look for “S” shapes in rivers, paths, and rocks.
11. Raindrops on windows
Rainy day in SF, iPhone4 processed with Camera+.
Raindrops on windows make really cool and interesting shots. You can get really creative with these shots so really stretch your imagination and see what you can create.
12. Food Photos
It may be slightly annoying to your friends and family, but snap a shot of your food before you eat it, especially fancy foods and deserts. Mmm. Chocolates :) Try to light your shots, either by placing the food in front of a nice bright window, or with speed lights if you have them, or just turn on some ambient light and use a nice low aperture lens like the 50mm f/1.4. If you are in a really dark restaurant you can also try moving the candle light close to your food to get a bit more light.
13. Pet Portraits
Leo’s Ozzie, Xti, 1/100 at f/4.0, ISO 100.
Pets are often easier to shoot than most people. Plus, they whine less and can be bribed with snacks. Here are some tips to get great pet photos.
14. Sports & Action shots
CFL Felions, 5DMKII, 15mm f/2.8, 1/25, f/5.6, IS0 320.
Whether you are at at a World Series showdown or a little league game, there are amazing sports photos just waiting to be taken. Freeze the action with a fast shutter speed and a long telephoto, take a tilt-shift of the entire stadium, or snap a fish-eye shot of the distracting cheerleaders at the game like I did :P If you can’t make it to the Superbowl, head to a local sporting event or even down the street to the nearest park. I’m sure you can find some impromptu soccer match for some great action shots.
15. Sunsets
iPhone 4, edited in Camera+.
From cityscapes to silhouetted figures in front of a sandy horizon line, everything looks magical at sunset. What’s great about sunsets is that every camera can capture the magic . I shot the above photo with my iPhone. :)
16. Night shots
Golden Gate, 16-35mm, 10s @ f5.0, 1SO 100.
Grab your tripod and shutter release and head out into the night to take some stunning night photos. Take long 15s exposures of cars whizzing by creating trails of light, or ghost-like movement of people walking by dark buildings, or bright neon city signs. If you plan on doing regular night photography, you might want to invest in a small headlamp or LED flashlight to hemp you find your camera buttons in the dark.
Hope that this list helps keep you motivated and inspired to keep snapping a daily photo. Not every photo has to be a masterpiece. Remember to take photos that remind you of your daily life and the little things that make you smile.
If you haven’t already joined my Mostly365 project feel free to jump in anytime! I can’t tell you how happy I am to see your shots everyday. Getting a glimpse into the lives of so many photographers from all over the world is a wonderful thing!
I am also tweeting daily suggestions and showcasing some of the best 365 shots each day, so be sure to follow Mostly365 on Twitter.
It takes 10,000 hours to become an expert in a field, and in the world of photography that roughly translates to about 100 pictures a day for about 5 years. It sounds daunting, but if you keep it light, stay passionate, and shoot what you love to shoot, you’ll look back one day soon at an incredible portfolio of work that is all you.
This year, I am encouraging everyone to shoot and share one photo a day for 365 days. To help you with this challenge, tap tap tap and I have created Mostly365.com — a new website where you share your daily photos with the world with one tweet.
1. Take a Photo
Snap a pic with any camera that you have access to. It doesn’t matter whether it’s a state-of-the-art dSLR, your cell phone camera, or $10 toy camera, the important thing is that you start taking more pics!
2. Share it
Post your pic to one of the many sharing sites and tweet it using the #mostly365 hashtag. Here’s the big list of all the services we support:
You can even just tweet with a link to a .jpg image.
Two years ago I started a 365 project on Flickr and after less than 2 weeks I abandoned it. I felt overwhelmed with having to take a photo everyday and didn’t want to share pictures that weren’t “amazing” in my eyes. What I’ve learnt over the last two years is that every photo you take, good or bad, is a stepping stone to becoming a great photographer.
The beautiful thing about photography these days is that anyone can access the tools to take great photos. You don’t need professional photography gear or school-taught knowledge to capture life’s beauty. All you need is the passion to get out and capture life with through your lens and the courage to share it with the world.
I want Mostly365.com to be a fun and inspirational place where you can share your photos, stay motivated to keep shooting, and connect with other enthusiastic shutterbugs. The most important thing is to have fun! If you miss a day, don’t get down on yourself, that’s why we call it Mostly365 ;)
Follow Mostly365 on Twitter.
Join the Mostly365 Group on Flickr.
Join the Mostly365 Group on Facebook.
Lisa Bettany is a photographer and iPhone App Developer (co-creator of Camera+). She enjoys zombie flicks, British tea, R2D2 & her 5DMKII.
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Whether you’re a seasoned photographer or someone who’s barely touched a camera, Camera+ will make you love taking photos.
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