Ed Spadoni's Photoblog

Bird on the Diagonal

2009-05-13T06:53:00.002-04:00

This skittish Mourning Dove often greets me as I leave the house each day.

Technorati Tags: Bird,Mourning Dove,Nikon D90,ed spadoni

Mount Washington in April

2009-05-05T14:32:00.002-04:00

The remnants of winter cling to the coldest slopes of Mount Washington in New Hampshire.

Architecture by night, Boston

2009-04-22T21:06:00.001-04:00

View more photos at my SmugMug galleries.

Technorati Tags: nikon d90,nikon 18-200,ed spadoni,boston,architecture

Sunset from the side of the road

2009-03-29T16:02:00.002-04:00

In the time it took me to pull over, grab the camera and run about 15 feet behind the car, the colors faded by about half. But it was still pretty striking and I'm glad I got it.

View more photos at my SmugMug galleries.

Technorati Tags: Nikon D90,sunset

Canon announces entry level DSLR with video

2009-03-25T09:40:00.007-04:00

Since Nikon first introduced high res video in a DSLR with their D90, there's been plenty of buzz that this would be the new must have feature. Canon followed with higher res video in their EOS 5D MarkII and today announced the T1i in the US, (elsewhere to be known as the 500D). This 15.1 megapixel DSLR will retail for about $900 with an 18-55 kit lens. More info here. DPreview has posted a side by side comparison with the D90 and a hands on preview. Amazon already has a listing with loads of specs. Looks like the race is on!

Technorati Tags: Canon,T1i,DSLR,video,entry level,Nikon,D90

Rugby: Holy Cross v Bentley

2009-03-21T23:21:00.004-04:00

Last year's Div 4 Champion College of the Holy Cross met Bentley's Division 2 Champs. The play was fierce and it was a rousing competition.

The calendar said "first day of spring" but the frigid temp made me wonder "how do these kids run around in shorts?"

That's Pete in the upper right corner:

Technorati Tags: rugby,Holy Cross,Bentley College,ed spadoni

Sunset on the Southeast Expressway

2009-03-20T22:50:00.003-04:00

I couldn't decide which one I like better...

...or...

Both of these were taken during my drive home with my trusty Canon point & shoot. Remember: Be prepared!

Technorati Tags: sunset,ed spadoni,canon

Neponset River in Walpole, Ma.

2009-03-19T22:25:00.002-04:00

View more photos at my SmugMug site.

Technorati Tags: Neponset River,Walpole,ed spadoni

But a memory

2009-03-18T20:17:00.002-04:00

View more photos at my SmugMug site.

Technorati Tags: snow,texture,ed spadoni

Bodie and Jake, early March

2009-03-17T20:21:00.003-04:00

Technorati Tags: Labrador retriever,ed spadoni

30 Days of Photography: the wrap-up

2009-03-16T21:22:00.002-04:00

We started this assignment 30 days ago with the simple objective of taking and posting one "good" photo everyday for 30 days. Now I know there are people that do this everyday for months, a year and longer, and so I know that this wasn't going to be any great feat in the grand scheme of things. But for me, (like many of you), with a family, a busy schedule and many responsibilities, I recognized that 30 good photos in 30 days would be a challenge. What I didn't expect was the things I would learn along the way. Here are a few key realizations:

As the Boy Scouts say: "Be Prepared". Having known this previously (or I thought I did), I've always carried my Canon point and shoot with me. Naturally, for this assignment however, I brought my Nikon D90 DSLR, with either an 18-200mm zoom lens or a smaller 50mm lens with me everywhere I went. 30 days of carrying the "heavy hardware" made me respect true photogs: the dedicated hobbyists and true professionals. But having the Nikon etc. with me meant I was in a better position to capture the good pics. That's not to say that the camera makes all the difference - that's a discussion for another post. But better features like low light performance and higher megapixels allowed me to do more.

So with gear in hand, (or on shoulder or in briefcase or under seat of car), I set out to capture National Geographic-quality photos. But wait, just because I was ready to take the picture of a lifetime, didn't mean it was always right there, lying in front of me like a discarded winning lottery ticket on the sidewalk. As they say, timing and preparation are everything - many great photos are born because someone was in the right place at the right time and able to capture the scene. Did you see the first "Miracle on the Hudson" photo taken by a person on a ferry with his iPhone? He and others got their shots because they were there when it mattered, and had a way to capture the photo, even if it was only a camera phone. Photographer and blogger Scott Bulger has a great post on the subject here.

Some of my daily photos were captured only because I was there, aware and ready. Some examples are here and here.

You have to make it happen: But a great photographer doesn't only respond to random situations as they arise. Great photogs seek great photos and take steps to create them. That's the difference between "taking" a picture and "making" one. I recently attended a photo exhibit with my daughter at Boston's Museum of Fine Arts. I was struck by the number of photos that were of simple, everyday subjects, that we look at but don't necessarily see: the wrinkles on the back of an elderly person's hand or a woman dashing to an unknown appointment, a look of concern on her face. First you must see the potential around you then take steps to capture it in a photograph. I waited for an hour to take this sunset photo. I had no guarantee it would be any good, but I had in my mind's eye what I was trying to capture, and took steps (equipment, timing, knowledge and a patient wife) to make it happen. During this assignment, I learned to think ahead for everyday's opportunities, based on where I planned to be, anticipating the scene, the lighting (natural or not, considering weather, timing, etc.). As you can see, some days I planned better than others!

Varying your shooting style ain't easy: I found myself falling into familiar patterns during these 30 days - thinking about the day's shot in advance and gravitating to the places and conditions I was comfortable with and/or that were convenient. But for fear of having 30 pictures of the orchids in my office, I forced myself to vary what I was looking for. In retrospect, I think I could have done that even better. This post from the Digital Photography School has some good ideas for mixing it up. We expand our photographic knowledge and skills by stretching ourselves, by trying new techniques and subjects under differing conditions. I plan to continue "stretching".

In retrospect, I'm more than happy that I undertook this assignment with my brother Rey. I feel that I've learned a lot and have a few photos I am truly pleased with like this one, this one and this one, and others that were, shall we say, acts of desperation: this one, this one and this one, ugh.

Bottom line - like riding a bike or learning to cook, you have to actually do it and do it often. Challenge yourself to capture great photos everyday for a month. You'll be surprised at what you accomplish.

And Rey, if you're reading this - nice job. I especially liked this one, this one and this one.

Technorati Tags: photo a day,ed spadoni

30 Days of Photography: 3-15-09

2009-03-15T20:55:00.002-04:00

"Good night"

Runners up can be viewed at my SmugMug site.

Technorati Tags: photo a day,sunset,ed spadoni

30 Days of Photography: 3-14-09

2009-03-14T23:22:00.002-04:00

"Boston's Museum of Fine Arts"

Runners up can be viewed at my SmugMug site.

Technorati Tags: photo a day,ed spadoni

30 Days of Photography: 3-13-09

2009-03-13T22:27:00.002-04:00

Runners up can be viewed at my SmugMug site.

Technorati Tags: photo a day,ed spadoni,boston

30 Days of Photography: 3-12-09

2009-03-12T21:53:00.002-04:00

Runners up can be viewed at my SmugMug site.

Technorati Tags: photo a day,ed spadoni

30 Days of Photography: 3-11-09

2009-03-11T19:51:00.002-04:00

Runners up can be viewed at my SmugMug site.

Technorati Tags: photo a day,ed spadoni

30 Days of Photography: 3-10-09

2009-03-10T13:39:00.003-04:00

What is it? The frost on my car's moonroof - contrast boosted.

30 Days of Photography: 3-09-09

2009-03-09T21:57:00.001-04:00

"Spring is just around the bend..."

Runners up can be viewed at my SmugMug site.

Technorati Tags: photo a day,ed spadoni

30 Days of Photography: 3-08-09

2009-03-08T21:04:00.003-04:00

"Little Shopper" in sepia

Runners up can be viewed at my SmugMug site.

Technorati Tags: photo a day,ed spadoni,Hummel

30 Days of Photography: 3-07-09

2009-03-07T23:37:00.002-05:00

Runners up can be viewed at my SmugMug site.

Technorati Tags: photo a day,ed spadoni

30 Days of Photography: 3-06-09

2009-03-06T22:41:00.002-05:00

Runners up can be viewed at my SmugMug site.

Technorati Tags: photo a day,Ed Spadoni,Norwood,Gazebo

30 Days of Photography: 3-05-09

2009-03-05T22:18:00.002-05:00

"Night Scene"

Runners up can be viewed at my SmugMug site.

Technorati Tags: photo a day,ed spadoni,night traffic

30 Days of Photography: 3-04-09

2009-03-04T22:04:00.002-05:00

Runners up can be viewed at my SmugMug site.

Technorati Tags: photo a day,ed spadoni

30 Days of Photography: 3-03-09

2009-03-03T21:07:00.002-05:00

Runners up can be viewed at my SmugMug site.

Technorati Tags: photo a day,ed spadoni

30 Days of Photography: 3-02-09

2009-03-02T21:55:00.002-05:00

Runners up can be viewed at my SmugMug site.

Technorati Tags: photo a day,ed spadoni

30 Days of Photography: 3-01-09

2009-03-01T18:32:00.002-05:00

"Awaiting Spring"

Runners up can be viewed at my SmugMug site.

Technorati Tags: photo a day,ed spadoni,baseball

30 days of Photography: 2-28-09

2009-02-28T19:27:00.002-05:00

Runners up can be viewed at my SmugMug site.

Technorati Tags: photo a day,ed spadoni

30 Days of Photography: 2-27-09

2009-02-27T21:19:00.002-05:00

Runners up can be viewed at my SmugMug site.

Technorati Tags: photo a day,Ed spadoni,pizza

30 Days of Photography: 2-26-09

2009-02-26T22:36:00.002-05:00

Runners up can be viewed at my SmugMug site.

Technorati Tags: photo a day,ed spadoni

30 days of Photography: 2-25-09

2009-02-25T15:50:00.003-05:00

Runners up can be viewed at my SmugMug site.

Technorati Tags: photo a day,ed spadoni,canon a540

30 Days of Photography: 2-24-09

2009-02-24T21:49:00.002-05:00

Runners up can be viewed at my SmugMug site.

Technorati Tags: photo a day,ed spadoni,nikon D90

30 days of Photography: 2-23-09

2009-02-23T14:19:00.003-05:00

"Look Ma, no cavities!"

Technorati Tags: photo a day,ed spadoni

30 Days of Photography: 2-22-09

2009-02-22T21:54:00.001-05:00

Runners up can be seen at my SmugMug site.

Technorati Tags: photo a day,ed spadoni

30 Days of Photography: 2-21-09

2009-02-21T21:57:00.003-05:00

Click HERE for more photos of Cape Cod.

Runners up can be seen at my SmugMug site.

Technorati Tags: photo a day,ed spadoni,highland light

30 Days of Photography: 2-20-09

2009-02-20T22:41:00.002-05:00

Click HERE for more photos of Cape Cod.

Runners up can be seen at my SmugMug site.

Technorati Tags: photo a day,ed spadoni,cape cod

30 Days of Photography: 2-19-09

2009-02-19T20:54:00.003-05:00

"Good morning sunshine!"

Runners up can be seen at my SmugMug site.

Technorati Tags: photo a day,ed spadoni,breakfast

30 Days of Photography: 2-18-09

2009-02-18T22:16:00.002-05:00

Runners up can be seen at my SmugMug site.

Technorati Tags: photo a day,ed spadoni

30 Days of Photography: 2-17-09

2009-02-17T20:54:00.002-05:00

K.I.A.

Runners up can be seen at my SmugMug site.

Technorati Tags: photo a day,ed spadoni,Lake Quannapowitt,Wakefield

30 Days of Photography: 2-16-09

2009-02-16T20:31:00.002-05:00

Runners up can be seen at my SmugMug site.

Technorati Tags: photo a day,ed spadoni,Zakim Bridge,Boston

30 Days of Photography: 2-15-09

2009-02-15T18:35:00.002-05:00

Peace.

Runners up can be seen at my SmugMug site.

Technorati Tags: photo a day,ed spadoni

30 Days of Photography: 2-14-09

2009-02-14T17:31:00.005-05:00

Runners up can be seen at my SmugMug site.

Technorati Tags: photo a day,ed spadoni

30 Days of Photography

2009-02-12T16:35:00.003-05:00

Several years ago, my brother Rey gave me as a birthday gift, a one day class at the Nikon School of Photography. The instructors imparted us with much useful information, the bottom line of which was: get out there and shoot! They recommended creating photo assignments for yourself, consisting of a defined theme, or technique, or location, etc., where you focus on taking the best photos you could, then study them, learn from them, and take what you've learned on to the next assignment, and so on. Rey and I have done exactly that, and many of my assignments have been posted to my SmugMug gallery.

Well, the latest assignment is beginning, and it's an ambitious one: take and post one (really good, or at least pretty good) photo per day for 30 days. We'll start on 2/14 (Valentine's Day) and end on March 15. You can view my photos here and at Rey's blog. I'm sure that some days will be better than others, but you be the judge!

Technorati Tags: Photo a Day,ed spadoni

A walk at sunrise

2009-01-11T19:24:00.001-05:00

Taken at the Walpole Town Forest, Jan. 10, 2009. Click here for more photos.

Technorati Tags: Walpole Town Forest,Walpole MA,Nikon D50,HDR,ed spadoni

Rolling around

2009-01-05T20:56:00.001-05:00

Technorati Tags: Lines,industrial,pattern,Canon G3

Boston's Finest

2009-01-05T20:46:00.001-05:00

Boston police horses, spotted on Boston Common

Technorati Tags: Horse,Boston,Police,Nikon D50,Common

A first shot at HDR

2008-12-24T11:27:00.002-05:00

My first attempts at High Dynamic Range editing. Photos processed using Paint Shop Pro X2.

This link explains how.

Technorati Tags: HDR,Paint Shop Pro,PSP,Nikon,D50

Pop Photo names Panasonic G1 Camera of the Year

2008-12-18T09:51:00.001-05:00

This little camera is getting a lot of attention. Popular Photography just named it the Camera of the Year, recognizing it as "the camera that best refined or redefined photography."

"No, none of us will be trading in our DSLRs for a G1. After all, the lens selection can, at this point, be counted on two fingers; the camera's high-ISO performance isn't especially good; the lenses are small, but the camera's body isn't appreciably smaller than the tiniest DSLRs (such as the Olympus E-420 and Pentax K2000); and, as good as it is, the EVF isn't yet as sharp as a DSLR's prism viewfinder.

In other words, much like Apple's first iPhone, the G1 is expensive and imperfect. But like the iPhone, it is brave, and forward-thinking."

As I wrote in an earlier post, this camera does represent a new breed and whether it catches on will depend on other manufacturers jumping into this new category, and the price settling down to earth. Already the G1 has dropped from it's introductory price of $800 to $735 at Amazon, (as of today), which is a good sign. But for a mere $105 additional, you can buy the Nikon D90, (body only), a 12megapix DSLR with an enormous array of available lenses, which is garnering stellar reviews and is on this photographer's short list for upcoming purchases.

I suspect the winning price point for the G1 and similar micro four thirds cameras will be closer to that of advanced bridge cameras, $500-$600. Certainly, we'll continue to monitor "the little camera that might".

Technorati Tags: Nikon,Panasonic,G1,Micro four thirds,D90,Camera of the year

Free for Fotographers!

2008-12-17T15:44:00.032-05:00

Here are two freebies that every photographer should know about:

ONE: SmugMug is a photosharing website where I have hosted my galleries at edspadoni.com for several years. They cater to all photographers, from beginners to pros with a range of pricing and feature sets.

Recently, through my friends Scott and Michael at the Digital Photography Life podcast, I learned of a sweet offer from SmugMug. For a limited time, the good folks at SmugMug will send you a free camera strap - all you have to do is be a listener to Digital Photography Life podcast (which I recommend) or be a member of a photography forum such as DPreview, Flickr or SmugMug's Digital Grin, or have an account on SmugMug. Mine arrived yesterday and I have to tell you, it's quite an improvement over the strap my Nikon DSLR came with. It's made of a slightly stretchy material, with padding for the shoulder/neck, and is very well made. Click here to order yours - there's absolutely no obligation.

Of course, as they say, there's no such thing as a free lunch, which applies here: the SmugMug name is prominently featured in a tasteful white on black motif (!) Since I'm a Smugger myself, I can vouch for the quality, stability and value of their photo-sharing capabilities; so I'm not shy about giving them some free advertising in the space around my neck.

But wait there's more! SmugMug is also offering a 50% off coupon for first time users. The coupon name to enter in the email/coupon field is flickr, and can be worth from $20 to $75 to you.

Ed's note: Despite the way it sounds, I have no affiliation with SmugMug other than as a customer, and I am not a paid actor! But I know a value when I see it.

TWO: I wrote a post a few months ago about photo-editing software and mentioned a free Google application named Picasa. Google recently unveiled Picasa Version 3 which has more features and functionality, and the price is still the same (yep, free). This 5 minute video gives you a brief overview of the new features.

While it's no Photoshop or Paint Shop Pro, it does provide quick editing and a wealth of creative sharing options. It links seamlessly with SmugMug and Picasa Web Albums so you can share your photos easily with friends and family. With this release comes enhancements to Web Albums, the neatest of which is facial recognition: once you turn it on, Picasa Web Albums will match similar faces and group them allowing you to label all similar faces with a tag, e.g. "Dad". Photos with multiple faces will have multiple tags, allowing you to rapidly retrieve photos with "Dad and Mom" if you'd like. Very cool.

I have installed Picasa 3 on all the computers I use so that I have a useful editing and organizing tool wherever I may be. You can read more about Picasa 3 here, and download it (for free!) here. For a quick fix, to organize your photos and to get really creative, I recommend Picasa 3.

Technorati Tags: SmugMug,Picasa,Digital Photgraphy Life

Be thankful!

2008-11-26T23:19:00.001-05:00

Despite these difficult times, if we can still find something to be thankful for, then we are truly blessed.

May this holiday be spent with friends and loved ones and offer a brief respite from the challenges we face in our daily lives. And, may we remember those less fortunate with a donation, a kind word, a helping hand.

"Not what we say about our blessings, but how we use them, is the true measure of our thanksgiving."
--WT Purkiser

Technorati Tags: Thanksgiving

The Micro Four Thirds Camera...neither fish nor fowl.

2008-11-22T17:07:00.001-05:00

In an earlier post, I wrote about selecting the right camera for you. Excluding camera phones and disposables on one end and medium and large format cameras on the other, most people choose from these three categories: the point and shoot models that fit in your pocket and are by far the most popular and easiest to use; the bridge or advanced point and shoots that provide a better picture and offer more control over your picture-taking, but won't fit in a pocket unless maybe you're wearing cargo pants; and a digital SLR, the most advanced cameras with the most flexibility, that will only fit in a custom-made pants pocket and require suspenders. The complexity of the cameras climb as do the prices, as you move from the first category to the third.

But recently, Panasonic announced another category, the oddly named: "Micro Four Thirds" camera. This camera fits somewhere between the advanced point and shoot and DSLR cameras. Think of it as a point and shoot on steroids, or maybe a dSLR with weak knees.

The Micro Four Thirds is smaller than a dSLR and accepts interchangeable lenses like a dSLR, but lacks a mirror and prism like a dSLR and as a result, relies on an electronic viewfinder or rear LCD for picture composition. There are only a few lenses available currently and so far only one manufacturer has taken the plunge, but another, Olympus, is rolling out their own soon. Oh and cost? More than the cost of a starter dSLR. Picture quality is reported to be very good, but not necessarily better than a good advanced P&S or dSLR. Hmmm.

There has been much speculation about which photographers this new camera might attract and whether it's destined to be groundbreaking or if it will go the way of the "Pneumatic Shoe-Lacing Device" (U.S. Patent 5,205,055). It seems to me that it could attract some of the people who are now buying the advanced point and shoots, and some of those who are considering stepping up to an entry-level dSLR. Two people whose opinions I respect have already written on the Micro Four Thirds, and I present their opinions here, for your consideration. David Pogue writes about all things gadgety for the NY Times (check out his video and samples from the G1), and Scott Sherman is a photographer, blogger and who's podcast, Digital Photography Life, I listen to regularly.

It's too early to tell, but it's safe to say that innovation and creativity are still alive and well in our favorite hobby.

Technorati Tags: Micro Four Thirds,Panasonic,G1,David Pogue,Scott Sherman,Digital Photography Life,which camera,Olympus

A Flowering Gift

2008-11-09T17:20:00.000-05:00

We met a woman atop the Empire State Building who, seeing me with a camera and speaking in broken English, asked if I would take a picture with her camera of she and her husband. She was carrying a bright bouquet of flowers with her which looked very familiar to me. Earlier, while touring the open Observatory Deck, I spotted those same flowers and took this picture:

The fragility of the flowers seemed like an interesting contrast against the steel and concrete that surrounded us. So now, thanks to our shared interest in photography, I met the flowers' owner. Of course I was happy to take her picture, and then asked her to do the same of us with mine. She took this photo:

After we said our thank you's and good-bye's, as much through gestures as words, we wandered in our separate directions. Until a few minutes later, when the woman reappeared and handed my wife a yellow flower from her bouquet, with many more thank you's and well wishes. That yellow flower accompanied us the rest of our trip and even survived the train ride back to Massachusetts. Before we left our hotel, I took this photo.

I call it the NYC Flower, complete with dirty window!

I will always remember that woman and her yellow flower, our chance encounter, her generosity and friendliness.

Technorati Tags: NYC,New York City,Empire State Building,Nikon,D50,18-200,yellow,generosity,friendliness

Technorati Tags: flower

Autumn

2008-10-30T21:28:00.001-04:00

Technorati Tags: Nikon D50,Nikon 18-200,Autumn,Fall,cemetery,Bell Rock,Malden,Sherborn,Dowse

Times Square, early October

2008-10-30T21:11:00.001-04:00

Technorati Tags: New York,NYC,Times Square,Nikon D50,Nikon 18-200

A view from The Empire State Building

2008-10-25T21:04:00.000-04:00

Technorati Tags: New York,NYC,Empire State Building,Manhattan,Nikon D50,Nkon 18-200

Cutler Park Reservation, Needham, MA

2008-09-06T21:02:00.001-04:00

Despite living in this area my entire life, I only recently discovered this gem of a park.

All photos taken with Nikon D50, Nikon 18-200 VR lens

Technorati Tags: Cutler Park,Nikon D50,18-200 VR,Needham

Black and White

2008-07-27T16:58:00.001-04:00

Technorati Tags: Black and white,B&W,Nikon D50,Paint Shop Pro X2

Which Camera should I buy?

2008-07-22T10:15:00.014-04:00

This is a question I am asked frequently. And although we were taught never to answer a question with a question, that's exactly how I reply - with more questions! There are so many options out there: by category, (point and shoot, bridge or DSLR); by price; by brand (Nikon, Canon, Panasonic, Pentax, etc.); and of course, what kind of photographer you are matters immensely: what do you want to shoot, how experienced are you... and so on. There's no one right answer that applies to everyone. The key is to know what best fits your needs, talents, plans and pocketbook.

I think this article on CNET.com does a good job of guiding you to the camera that's right for you.

The article starts by asking you what type of shooter you are. If you already know, you can jump to that section, if not, see how CNET defines each and go from there. My advice - be honest with yourself: don't say you're a Serious Amateur if you're really a Snapshooter - we all start out at the beginning. On the other hand, if you have a passion for photography and are committed to growing your skills, you might want to stretch yourself by purchasing a camera that's a little ahead of your current skills but that you can grow into.

This piece won't tell you that you should buy the Splinky 9000x digital camera, but it will tell you what features would be important and what to look for. Armed with that information, you can scan the Sunday flyers or better yet, go online to one of the reputable retailers such as Amazon, to make your selection and purchase.

Good luck and if I can help, drop me a line.

Technorati Tags: Which camera,Nikon,Canon,Cnet

The Streets of Philadelphia

2008-07-20T14:31:00.003-04:00

Technorati Tags: Philadelphia,streets,Nikon,D50,18-200 VR

My new ride - or - Wow, you took that with a cell phone?!?

2008-07-18T23:05:00.002-04:00

The cameras found in cell phones are getting better and better all the time. A recent Wirefly.com Survey reports that:

"A whopping 96.3% of adult cell phone owners report that they have a cell phone with a camera, and

19% of adults prefer to use their cell phone as their primary camera for all photography".

That's stunning when you consider that cell phones have had built in cameras for only the past few years.

This photo is not intended to show off my new car (although I do love it!) but to demonstrate what you can do with a cell phone camera. This was taken with my Blackberry Curve which sports a 2 megapixel camera. Now granted, it has no manual controls, the lens is tiny, and it's biggest shortcoming is it's softness. This shot was edited slightly in Photoscape and sharpened but it's still pretty soft. But in a pinch, when you really want to capture a picture, what could be more convenient?

If your cell phone has a camera, you might want to check out this post from the Digital Photography School on taking better pictures with your cell phone. You may not capture a contest winner, but you may also be surprised at just how useful it can be.

Technorati Tags: Cell phone,Blackberry,photos,Photoscape

Chesapeake Bay from 35,000 feet

2008-07-02T19:03:00.001-04:00

These two photos were taken during a recent flight home from southeastern Florida north to Boston. We took off through low clouds and most of the flight was above the clouds. I was disappointed, having brought my Nikon with great hopes for a interesting shot of something. We were heading N-NE and from my left side window seat, I could see the setting sun just off my left shoulder, once we got above the clouds.

After about two thirds of the flight, a bright red light caught my eye from the window and I was pleasantly surprised to see that we were flying over a break in the clouds. The setting sun, still directly to my left, was casting a golden red light on the water below, and cleanly defining the terrain. I hurriedly put away my novel and set my Nikon D50 to a fast shutter speed (1/2000 in one picture, 1/3200 in the other) due to the very bright sunlight and in order to be free of any effects the vibrations of the plane might have. I also set the white balance to cloudy, not because of any clouds but because I know that that setting tends to warm the picture a bit, which would enhance the golden colors. I was using the very versatile Nikon 18-200 VR zoom lens, so I was able to compose the shots without any part of a wing or window frame getting into the scene. My first few snaps were too bright (you have to love digital cameras for the instant feedback), so I set the exposure bias down by one stop.

Later on the computer, I could see some unwanted haze in the pictures due to the sunlight reflecting off the plastic (double) windows. I would have backed away further from the window and then zoomed out a bit more, but I doubt the woman in the seat next to me would have appreciated me in her lap, even if it meant a great picture! I used Paint Shop Pro X2's brightness and contrast curves to clear up the photo and enhance the contrast.

Thanks to the TV screen in the back of the seat in front of me, which was set at the Live Map channel, I was able to see that we were roughly over Salisbury, MD at an altitude of 35,000 feet when I took these shots. West of Salisbury is the Chesapeake Bay.

Technorati Tags: Chesapeake,D50,Nikon 18-200,Paint Shop Pro X2,Sunset

An "Automatic" Success!

2008-06-24T22:10:00.004-04:00

You're certainly aware that there are countless websites and blogs out there, with information ranging from the useful to the unintelligible. I want to share with you a photo blog that I came upon not long ago written by Natalie Norton, named "Pics and Kicks", which is not only useful, it's a pleasure to read.

Natalie is a talented photographer, avid blogger, and although I haven't met her, seems like a genuinely nice person. It was Natalie's posts a few months ago on creating a photo blog that inspired me to create Swell Shot. I recommend you spend some time visiting Natalie's blog and be inspired by her photos and explore her posts.

In particular, I want to bring your attention to this post on "Shooting in Automatic". If you have a digital SLR or an advanced point and shoot, you may be confused by the program modes typically found on the top dial: P (program) A (aperture) S (shutter) M (manual) and Auto(matic). While each mode has it's advantage, the Auto mode is the easiest, and as Natalie points out, a great way to start using a camera until you're ready to move on to the others.

If you have a camera, the most important thing is to use it, and not be intimidated by features and functions you don't understand. Natalie's post is terrific advice. So snap away!

Technorati Tags: Natalie Norton,Automatic

Fenway Park, Home of the Boston Red Sox

2008-06-20T23:21:00.000-04:00

Since April 1912

Manny Ramirez

Kevin Youkilis

Mike Lowell

Time for a pitching change

An overzealous fan provided a break in the game

Date night!

Old Faithful

Priceless!

All photos taken with Nikon D50, 18-200 zoom lens

Technorati Tags: D50,Nikon 18-200,Red Sox

Getting started in Photo Editing

2008-06-06T23:28:00.002-04:00

There are several reasons why we, the average photographers of today are better photographers than the average "snapper" was in the "old days". And by better, I mean, we take more "keepers" and have fewer "Oh rats, that picture didn't come out right" moments. Here's why:

Consumers today have access to much better cameras. In the OLD days, many people might have used a good old Kodak Instamatic or other camera with a fixed (non-zoom) lens, of poor to average quality, with a fixed aperture and shutter speed. Heck, we've all used those disposal 35mm cameras too. Today's digicams however put good glass, variable ISO, faster shutters, zoom lenses, image stabilization, and much more into the hands of just about anyone who can afford to spend as little $100 to $200 for a point and shoot, and upwards for even more sophistication and quality. The result, better pictures.
With a digital camera, we have instant feedback on the quality of our shots: we can immediately see and experience delight or delete. Gone are the days of headless relatives from Grammy's last birthday party. Do you have an Uncle Stan who is best remembered for his nice shoes, but no one can quite recall his face? Hmmm.
And finally, Photo editing. Old days: you needed a dark room, which required knowledge, space, and expense: all in all, a commitment most average photographers were not willing to make. Today: software, and more and more often, in-camera editing features, allow us the ability to make improvements to our pictures after we've taken them.

And yet, there are some people I meet who are averse to photo editing because, they say:

"Photography is not art, it is reality; we shouldn't manipulate a photo - it should capture things the way they are". In other words, "It is what it is". That's certainly true, photography often is a means to capture reality, and that's what many photogs do. But do your photos always capture reality the way you saw it? Too often we snap away and get a picture that is too bright, too dark, has flat colors, our loved ones look possessed with demonic red eyes, the horizon is drifting off towards the southeast, and worse. I think all would agree - this is not reality. Photo editing can get your photos back to the reality that inspired you to take the picture in the first place.

In fact, today's best cameras, as technologically advanced as they are, cannot capture the dynamic range of light that the human eye can. So it's not uncommon to view with our eyes a picturesque scene, (such as a bright blue sky over craggy mountains with lots of light and dark contrast in the details), only to later look at the picture we took, and see a sky that is all white or the mountains just a dark shadow.

Of course, photo editing can be used to enhance details or characteristics of a photo to make it different from reality. Famous American photographer Ansel Adams frequently used dodging and burning techniques in the darkroom to make his photos even more dramatic than they appeared in reality. We can add or remove distracting objects from a scene; we can even add or remove a person. Wouldn't you like to have a photo of yourself with a famous historical figure, celebrity or standing somewhere unique, say, the moon?? All possible with photo editing.

Click on this Web Album for examples of before and after photos where simple photo editing was performed to bring a photo "back to reality", or in one case, to create something a little different. View in Slideshow mode for best results.

"Photo editing is too difficult to do, I can't figure out those programs and don't have the time or desire to learn. And besides, they're too expensive". Yep - all true, unless you know which programs to use, and where to get them.

There are many options available to you so that you can get started and learn to improve your pictures, whether your goal is to have a picture that really reflects the reality of what you saw, or to enhance a shot to be better or at the least, different, from reality. And some of these options are not only easy to learn and use, but they're FREE! That's right free and easy. What's not to like??!!

The first on my list is Picasa, a bare bones but effective, free, easy, photo viewer and editor that you can begin using almost immediately. The Basic Fixes panel allows you to Crop, Straighten, remove Redeye, adjust Contract and Color effortlessly. There's even an "I'm Feeling Lucky" button which will let Picasa analyze your photo, determine what changes are needed (if any) and make them. All changes can be undone so experimenting is not only a good way to get your picture just right, but also the best way to learn Picasa's feature. The Tuning panel gives you more fine control over lighting and color adjustments and is effective at removing color casts. The Effects tab gives you 12 push-button effects so you can really get creative. Some of these Effects are fine-tunable, like saturation and the black and white converter, some, like sharpness are not.

Picasa is owned and offered by Google, so you know it will be around for a while. Google offers free upgrades periodically; the current version is 2.7. It's also very stable on a Windows PC, but unfortunately, as of this writing, Picasa is not available for the Mac. Picasa has some RAW handling capabilities and integrates with Blogs (like this one). It does not have the ability to make selections, so you can't for instance, brighten or otherwise edit just an area of a picture - it's all or none.

Two of my favorite features in Picasa are the ability to make edits to your photos without having to save the changes. That is, if you make a change to a photo in Picasa, then come back the next day and call up that picture again (in Picasa), any edits you made yesterday are still shown and can be undone. Many other photo editing applications require you to save your changes or you'll lose them. With Picasa, you can undo previous changes and make new changes at a later date. If you want the picture, with your edits, to be viewable outside of Picasa, such as if you were going to email it or print it, you would Export it, which creates a copy with your changes saved, although your original image is still available.

The other great feature is that Picasa integrates seamlessly with Google's Picasa Web Albums. This is a terrific, free way to share your photos with others, either publicly for all the world to see, or privately with only the people with whom you want to share.

If you're looking for your first photo editor, or something that you can use in seconds with very good results, I highly recommend Picasa, which you can download here.

Another application is one I just discovered recently, and have only explored briefly, but so far, it has impressed me. Photoscape is another free program that you can download and easily use to view and edit your photos. I can best describe it as Picasa on steroids. While not quite as easy to use as Picasa it has much more functionality. The editor gives you greater flexibility in controlling brightness, color and with the filters options, you can get very creative and reduce noise. It also has a screen capture feature which is handy and a brightness control that works wonders on a photo with dark areas from which you'd like to bring out some detail. Photoscape provides numerous frame options so that you can surround your picture with some interesting borders before printing or posting. It has some RAW support but like Picasa, allows no selections. Nor is it available for the Mac.

Oddly, the Photoscape online home page has Google Picasa banners above and below, although as far as I can tell, Google has no connection to Photoscape. Also, Help is skimpy and not always clear. If you've never used a photo editor, start with Picasa. If you've already used a basic editor, try Photoscape for some of it's "better than basic" features. You can download Photoscape here.

There are many other fine photo editing applications including Adobe's Photoshop CS3 and Photoshop Elements, and my favorite, Paint Shop Pro Photo X2. The latter can be downloaded for a free 30 day trial. These programs are much more advanced than the two I described above, and recommended for the intermediate amateur and above. But if you're just beginning, give Picasa or Photoscape a try. Don't be afraid to experiment - you'll be pleasantly surprised by the results, and your ability.

Technorati Tags: Photo editing,Picasa,PhotoScape,paint Shop Pro X2

Yahoo! News Story - Lost cameras phone home to catch thieves

2008-06-05T16:41:00.012-04:00

This story caught my eye today. Although this technology wasn't intended for this purpose, it has pleasant consequences. I'm expecting a call from my car keys any minute now.

Click here for the story.

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Remember Those Who Served: Memorial Day 2008

2008-06-03T15:31:00.000-04:00

“The bravest are surely those who have the clearest vision of what is before them, glory and danger alike, and yet notwithstanding, go out to meet it.” Thucydides

“A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself.” Joseph Campbell

"Without heroes, we are all plain people, and don't know how far we can go." Bernard Malamud

Taken at precisely 3:00pm, Monday May 26, the National Moment of Remembrance

All photos taken with a Nikon D50 and Nikon 18-200 lens

Technorati Tags: nikon 18-200,d50,Memorial Day

Boston Skyline from Blue Hills

2008-05-21T13:41:00.002-04:00

Driving home on Chickatawbut Road, I stopped at this scenic lookout. The sun setting to my left created the interesting shadow along the treeline. Taken with Nikon D50 DSLR using Nikon 55-200VR zoom lens.

Technorati Tags: Chickatawbut,Blue Hills,Nikon 18-200,D50,18-200

"Papa's got a brand new bag!"... or two

2008-05-20T13:17:00.026-04:00

Well, I've never been known to be an extravagant person. When it comes to photo equipment, I've spent what I could justify and, for the most part, made purchases I've not regretted. My selection of camera bags have followed the same philosophy, except maybe, I've been a bit cheaper. Sure, you need to protect your equipment, but that doesn't mean you can't be creative about it!

Bags for me have included a free bag I received about 10 years ago with a paid subscription to Popular Photography (complete with Pop Photo logo prominently displayed), which I still have, and I once adopted a zippered, insulated (read: padded) soft-sided cooler bag. Hey, it protected the gear from bumps, bruises and temperature extremes, and nicely accommodated a sandwich and a canned beverage.

But I decided recently it was time to buy a real camera bag, so I set out to research what was available as well as what I was in need of. There are all kinds of options out there, from bags that will carry every piece of equipment you own, and some people own a lot, to those which will handle just what you'll need for a day trip, to the bare minimum that basically covers the camera and gives you a smidge more room for a some small accessories.

I just needed to carry a few pieces of equipment, (my DSLR with a lens attached, perhaps an additional lens, an external flash and extra batteries or a charger), which meant I needed a "day bag". After much research, I decided upon the Lowepro Nova 3 AW.

The Nova 3 AW is one in a series of various size Nova bags made by Lowepro. Here are the features of the 3 AW (source: eBags.com):

Material: Water-resistant 600D TXP and 600D TXP ripstop

Size: 9" x 6" x 7.5"

Warranty: Lifetime

Movable interior dividers
Inner and outer mesh pockets for film and accessories, plus security pocket
Front NoDrop Pocket to simplify film and filter changes
OverLap Zipper™ for added protection
Rugged metal hardware
Curved, padded shoulder strap
Padded handle

This is a well-made bag with a great deal of flexibility thanks to the movable dividers. I brought the gear I wanted to be able to fit into a day bag with me to Hunt's Photo and Video so I could "try on" each bag I considered. I strongly recommend that you do this too. You can buy a bag online based on the specifications as long as you are confident of the ease of the seller's return policy. You don't want to purchase a bag only to find out it's not up to your expectations and you can't return it. The good people at Hunt's were kind enough to let me fit and refit my gear into a number of bags, and although I wasn't exactly set on how I would configure the bag for my purposes, I was confident that I had several options.

Here's the interior of the 3AW with my gear: a Nikon D50 DSLR, Nikon SB 600 flash, Nikon 50mm lens, battery charger and cable and hidden beneath the D50 are spare batteries for the SB 600.

The front pocket of the bag will hold spare memory cards, cleaning cloths, batteries, etc. I keep a filter wallet (which holds six filters) in there comfortably. One neat feature of the AW series is the rain cover that is stored under the front pocket and can be pulled out and stretched to cover the bag, protecting it from wet weather. The AW stands for All Weather. I'm not sure how often I'll use this but it's an insurance policy of sorts.

So that took care of my day bag needs. But I also wanted a "grab and go" bag so I could carry the bare minimum, such as my camera with a only lens on it and little else, so I opted for a fitted bag that I could easily sling over my shoulder or slide onto my belt. These holster bags are very popular since they are light and not very expensive. Again I chose a Lowepro, this time it was the Topload Zoom 1.

This bag accommodates my D50 DSLR with an 18-200mm lens attached, with the hood attached in reverse. There's a front pocket that will carry the camera's charger and cable, or a filter or two. It's not large enough for the SB 600 flash, and the pocket is not padded so whatever you place in there needs to be able to handle a bump or two.

Inside there are adjustable dividers which I was able to set to support the D50 nicely. By the way, both the Nova 3 AW and the TLZ 1 have loops to allow carrying on your belt. The Nova 3 seems too boxy to carry comfortably that way, but for the TLZ1, it's a viable alternative to the shoulder strap.

If you are looking for a camera bag (or two!), first think about what you need in terms of carrying capacity, what features are important to you and of course, how much you want to spend. Then do your research. There are loads of pictures and specifications online to give you some ideas, but then you should visit your neighborhood camera store. Bring your gear and start packing! And if your local retailer is kind enough to help you with your selection, please make your purchase from them as well.

Well, I'm very happy with my two bags, and I should be good to go for quite some time to come. But I do wish I had somewhere to put a sandwich and a cold drink. :-)

Technorati Tags: Nikon 18-200,D50,Lowepro,camera bag

Scenes from Rockport, Ma

2008-05-16T21:58:00.027-04:00

This seaside village on the northeastern coast of Massachusetts is best known for it's famous Motif #1 (left), but there are many other interesting and colorful scenes for the visiting photographer.

Rockport and it's surrounding area was once a source of granite and timber and the fishing grounds off the coast were amongst the best.

Today, Rockport is an artist's colony and draws visitors from around the US and beyond.

Bearskin Neck juts into the Atlantic and is lined with shops carrying everything from jewelry and crafts to ice cream and T-shirts.

All photos taken with a Nikon D50 DSLR and either a Nikon 18-55 or Nikon 55-200VR zoom lens.

Technorati Tags: Nikon D50,Nikon 18-200,Rockport,Bearskin Neck