Category Archives: Photography

Transparency

February 22nd, 2009 | Posted in Photography, Photoshop, Technology

There’s a technique I’ve been meaning to try for some time.

Its a technique called transparent screens. There are a couple methods to make them, but my favorite requires a few steps.

First, you need to take a photo of the scene without the screen up.

Second, you need to put the screen up to figure out the region blocked.

Third, you need to create a desktop wallpaper that plays as your “window”

Once that’s set, just put the finishing touches on your scene, and snap your final. It helps to use a tripod in all this, and keep the settings and lighting constant.

These photos were made for the Logos Photo Contest hosted by Logos Bible Software. They’re also doing giveaways with their Bible Study Magazine, so you can check them out there too.

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Blurb

September 12th, 2008 | Posted in Photography

Last weekend, during my trip to San Francisco, I hit my 10,000th photo on my new camera. File numbering wrapped around back to 0000. To mark the occasion, I started going through my archives, and picking out my favorites. As if a sign, I saw on the new flickr homepage a link to blurb. Aha! Something I can do with them other than a slideshow! Its a shame to take all these high-res 10MP (and in some cases, 300MP+) photos and just use small 600px versions on the web.

So this week, I’ve been working on a layout for a book, of my 80 or so favorite images from my first 10,000. I plan to have the book finished next week sometime, so I’ll have my proof in a couple weeks. I’m not sure if this is the kind of thing I’m going to try and sell, or what yet.

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I’ve been published!

August 25th, 2008 | Posted in In the News, Out and About, Photography, Site News

…sort of!
This photo taken at Beals Point, Lake Folsom was included in a recent Sacramento City Guide for schmapp.com under Marine Excursions.
Widget here:

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6 Million People

August 7th, 2008 | Posted in Photography

The 6 Million People project at Flickr is collecting pictures of 6 million people, one portrait at a time. The photo pool stands a tribute to the 6 million Jewish people and millions of others who died during the Nazi Holocaust.

Its worth keeping the awareness up, especially since there are those who still deny its occurrence. Every week, they feature a particular portrait photographer in Spotlight 7, and let me tell you, there is some awesome stuff there! If nothing else, it makes for good inspiration when thinking of something to do with your photography.

Check them out!

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Miniature Fauxtography

July 22nd, 2008 | Posted in Photography, Photoshop

Faking tilt-shift photos might not be as fun as getting a lensbaby and doing it through the lens, but its easier, and gives a little more control over the final output. The basic principle is straightforward, tilt and shift the focal plane to produce a very sharp dof, not parallel to the camera.

The process is really very simple in photoshop CS and above.

  1. Boost the contrast and saturation with your favorite method a little.
  2. Start the Quick mask tool, and use the Gradient tool to make the mask. The reflected gradient option that looks like a cylinder works best. Draw a perpendicular line from the area you want in focus, away to the edge of the photo.
  3. Exit Quick mask, and apply a Filter > Blur > Lens Blur.
  4. Deselect, then apply finishing touches to the saturation until it has the right look.

WARNING: The process can get addicting!

More at Tilt-Shift Photography

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