Stirling Ranges
I am working up some stock images for Australia’s South West and every now and then I came across something I liked. Ok the grass isn’t meant to be green but they wanted winer shots for the new Winter Getaways brochure. Photoshop to the rescue. I like the simplicity of this shot.
Site Stats
To the right is the reason you need to think about Search Engine Optimization. I had Judd Exley and the gang at Clever Starfish work on my site and the results speak for themselves. Below is what Judd does
Search Engine Optimisation, Pay-Per-Click Advertising, Web Marketing, Web Consulting and Web Analytics are all really big and fancy ways of saying one thing:
Make your website work.
Make it so people can find you, make it so that they can find what they want and make it tell you if it’s doing that properly.
In short, have a good website.
And that’s what I do.
You can contact Judd via his website it is worth looking into.
CF
100 Year Storm
This was my take on the storm that ripped through Perth last week. Michael and I got this one and decided to pack up when the lightning went behind us. When I got home a huge crack hit so close it was the thunder and lightning together. The old gradient filter can work wonders with these scenes. This was one bolt, with a small one on the horizon. The Phase One stayed home for this shot, couldn’t get the little girl wet or electrocuted. She doesn’t like the dark anyway. Took my old flame out, the 5D2, she is alright but you wouldn’t marry her!! A good work horse though, and not the glamour babe you take out to show off.
These are a couple of pics of my niece who was kind enough to pose for me so I could check out some different lighting setups for my new portrait venture. We shot these this afternoon in a tilt panel industrial unit. I find using the walls as a backdrop helps add texture to the image. When your a teenager you want to look cool not all smiley and nice. You want to look dark, gritty and angry, well some of them do. I was a pretty happy teenager! But it was the 80′s and the darkest thing in those days was having huge mullets kept up with lots of hairspray!
Shot on the Phase One 645DF with the Schnieder 80mm f/2.8 and the P65+ back. The quality is quite extraordinary as you would expect.
Madi
Madi
True North Trip 13
Markie has been pulling out some more Kimberley trip gems so not to be outdone I thought this was a great travel shot taken on an island with huge sandstone sculptures. The model was one of the passengers who was French, I know as much French as Tom Putt knows hard work! She was a natural!
Christian Fletcher
This is the sort of portraits I want to get into. Nothing too glossy and nice, more gritty, dark and interesting. If you want to be photographed in this way let me know and I’ll rip you through a price list……………. actually don’t know what to charge yet but will probably ask my good mate Tony Hewitt.
I like the idea of the photo being an art piece that you would hang on the wall not a little 5×7 you put into an album and never look at again. I want it to be interesting and don’t want to end up hating doing it because of creative restrictions. No smiling, no cuddling, no looking lovingly into each others eyes. I want none of that. If you need that sort of a photograph I’m not your guy.
Just noticed I have cracked 500K today. Thanks everyone for having a look at my blog I really appreciate it. Wow that is some serious blogging time we have all managed in the past 2 years. Going on my average hits per day I should be at 1,000,000 hits by September 2010.
Yallingup Beach
I think photographing with a camera like the Phase One has given me the spark I needed to get back into shooting. I can’t wait for the day to start so I can go out and shoot, or should that be reshoot all my favourite locations. The P65+ is proving to be better than I could have imagined and at last I know what it must have been like to shoot 8″x10″ film. Not every image is a winner and you have to make sure your technique is spot on. I am having to focus stack to get the depth of field I want which is new to me after having so much depth of field with the DSLR’s. Still the extra effort is worth it and it has made me slow down and concentrate on the image.
Anyway you can’t get a very good idea how good this baby is until you give it a go for yourself. Have a word to Benny or Trev at Team Digital if you are serious about getting into this sort of gear. It will blow your mind.
Now have a look at this portrait of a very good looking fellow! Ok so I couldn’t find a model for the TNFP shirt. Hey the camera even has a self timer so you can shoot yourself as many times as your ego can cope with, mine got up to about 50 shots! Have a look at the 100% crop. That is all man, er I mean camera! The detail is astounding and if anyone out there would like a copy of this for their wall let me know, I can overlay a target so it would be awesome as a dart board. This is the ultimate weapon for a photographer, maybe Peter Eastway was right all along……………… nah!!
Christian Fletcher
Hi all, Team Digital have some cool news on some excellent workshops coming up. I am going to two of Les Walklings, hedaman!!
There is 2 positions left for the Capture One workshop.
This seminar presents a comprehensive overview of Capture One 5, Phase One’s latest version of their legendary software. Highlights of the seminar include Capture One’s exceptional image quality, and the logical and professional workflow it facilitates. RAW, TIFF and JPEG files are processed non-destructively, tethered shooting and batch processing are fully supported, and special tools such as the Colour Editor, High Dynamic Range, Lens Correction and Skin Tone Enhancer produce images of unrivalled beauty, accuracy and processing efficiency.
http://teamdigital.wordpress.com/2010/02/25/capture-one-training-1st-april/
Also we have the free Printing workshops running on the 30th March. Les is speaking so they must come.
First Steps Seminar 9.30am-12.45pm
Understanding the key elements to printing success – An introductory seminar for
photographers looking to get serious about producing quality output.
Fine Art Printing Seminar 1.45 to 4.45pm
This seminar critically introduces the fine print in the age of digital reproduction. It analyses and evaluates the finest available materials and combines them with advanced editing techniques and print processes to produce prints of exquisite quality. Simultaneous contrast, optical illusions and other visual effects are incorporated into sophisticated image editing techniques. Different criteria for evaluating print quality, and the creative preparation of images for inkjet and digital-photographic printing are also examined.
http://teamdigital.wordpress.com/2010/03/16/team-digital-invites-you-to-two-free-printing-seminars/
We’ll have some amazing offers on printers ,media,and coating never before seen in WA.
Cheers Christian you legend!! haha
Ben “Benny” Walton
Everyone has probably heard about my foray into Luminosity Masks, well I have a treat for all of you. I contacted Tony Kuyper the guy who has the amazing Luminosity Mask Actions you can download from his website. They are brilliant and I use them in just about every image I produce. Say hello to Tony and make sure you get a set of these, they are the secret sauce that will make your images pop. The effects can be subtle or you can go heavier and radically improve an image. Tony says he will have his own blog up soon, that would be one to follow.
LUMINOSITY PAINTING
First I’d like to thank Christian for allowing me to post on his blog. I’ve enjoyed the variety and quality of his photographs for a long time. He has a great eye for composition and incredible skill at transforming RAW images into beautiful photos.
I’m a photographer living and photographing on the Colorado Plateau in the southwestern US. Many of the landscapes in this region are well-known and heavily photographed. I try to find unique compositions in this region with an emphasis on the varied and somewhat abstract character of sandstone.
Most of my images http://www.goodlight.us/ involve using Photoshop to create a distinctive look. While I don’t particularly like the “manipulation” moniker that is associated with intensive Photoshopping, there’s no question that my RAW files can be significantly transformed as they develop. I often use the phrase “follow the light” to describe the process whereby the photographer and the image collaborate to create the final photo. The image tells the photographer what it needs, and the photographer figures out a way to meet this need. I know, this might sound a little odd, but once you get in touch with your subject and photos, they do tend to guide you towards their final form. In the process, a rather personal style can emerge, and that’s the real benefit of learning to touch the light.
Christian has invited me to share some of my processing tips and methods here. The basics are found in the tutorials section of my website http://www.goodlight.us/writing/tutorials.html , but there are always additional strategies and approaches that develop through frequent use. Over time I hope to share some of these with his readers.
Luminosity masks http://www.goodlight.us/writing/luminositymasks/luminositymasks-1.html have been one of my favorite techniques for several years. These masks are an integral part of my processing. They isolate specific tonal ranges in the image for adjustment and then blend the adjustment into the image in a seamless manner.
Luminosity painting http://www.goodlight.us/writing/luminositypainting/luminositypainting-1.html is perhaps the most powerful way of using the luminosity masks. When I hear from people who use the masks, I always urge them to develop their understanding of them to the level of luminosity painting because this leverages the potential of the masks to a much higher level than adjustment layers. Painting allows both multiple brush strokes to intensify the effect of the mask and precise placement on the image to provide perfect control as to which parts of the image are affected.
Luminosity painting involves three steps:
1. Create a Burn/Dodge layer in Photoshop—New layer>fill with 50% gray>change blending mode to Soft Light.
2. Create a selection to target the desired tones, that is, make a luminosity mask.
3. With a paintbrush, paint through this selection onto the Burn/Dodge layer. Paint white to lighten (dodge) the underlying tones and paint black to darken (burn) them.
Of course, there are all kinds of variations within this process that increase your control over how the image is affected—the tones that are selected by the luminosity mask; the shape, size, and hardness of the brush; the opacity of paint applied; and number of brush strokes are some examples.
While there can be many aesthetic reasons for using luminosity painting with an image, my personal goal is usually to use it to bring a certain degree of balance to the overall light and contrast in the scene. This is a very personal decision, and everyone can decide and create their own personal balance of tones using this painting technique. Here’s an example how it was used in a recent image.
This first image shows how the image would look without the luminosity painting.
This second image shows the manner in which the light and contrast were balanced with luminosity painting. Hopefully you can see and appreciate how the painting increased the brightness of some areas and darkened others, while at the same time maintaining overall contrast and slightly improving saturation.
This third image shows the Burn/Dodge layer after luminosity painting on it to create the desired tones in the image.
This painted layer is instructive as it shows several important characteristics of luminosity painting. What should be most obvious is that parts of the image appear to be embossed in gray-scale onto the layer. This is the direct result of painting through luminosity selections/masks which select specific tones to receive paint. Areas darker than 50% gray darken the underlying tones in the image and areas lighter than 50% gray lighten the underlying tones. Applying paint through an active luminosity selection both selects the pixels that receive paint and darkens or lightens these pixels as the paint is applied. Because luminosity selections partially select pixels in proportion to their brightness, paint is also applied proportionally as the brush is stroked across the Burn/Dodge layer. The net result is not only that the tones in the desired parts of the image are changed, but the change is also perfectly blended into the surrounding pixels. The partially selected tones receive the exact amount of paint to make sure each brush stroke merges seamlessly with similar tones. Brush strokes can be applied repeatedly until the desired change is achieved. By choosing the correct mask or combination of masks to paint through, significant control can be exercised with regard to the final brightness and contrast of the painted areas.
This is only brief demo of how luminosity painting works. There are lots of variations to the process and perhaps they can be subjects of future posts. It’s easy to experiment with luminosity masks and luminosity painting to see how they might help your images. I hope you’ll give it a try.
Best of light,
Tony
Well the team at True North have put together an amazing workshop for next Australia day and beyond. Have a look at the TRUE NORTH WEBSITE to get a feel for what is going to happen.
What I can also tell you is Nick Rains, Tony Hewitt and myself will be back to run a full three day workshop on the boat.
The 3 day workshop will include
Taking photographs – Composition, capture, camera settings, light
Post Production – RAW image conversion, photoshop techniques, other software used for specific results, sharpening and output to web and printers.
Colour Management – setting up monitors, profiling devices, icc profiles
Printing – colour managed workflow to obtain the best prints possible
Each of the three tutors will be available for one on one tuition as well as running at least 2 workshops each per day on the above topics and more such as
Pre-visualisation, creation, photographic themes, styles and inspiration
Now is the time to book your place as this is going to be very popular. Where else can you get to learn photography in luxury at one of Australia’s best kept secrets.
Prices include the workshop and the usual True North luxury
Explorer Class Cabin: 4499 pp
River Class Cabin: 3999 pp
Ocean Class Cabin: 3499 pp
If you want to know what’s better Phase One or Hassel Bad have a look at the latest Luminous Landscape Article. I love my Phase One and if you want one yourself go see Benny @ Team Digital.
Also you want to have a look at this Salt ‘SALT’ Screening on ABC 1 Tuesday Evening 23/3/2010 10.00pm. Murray Fredericks work is superb and he uses a Phase!!
If you don’t have a big lens you’d better have lots of resolution. I took this pic this morning. I couldn’t get close enough to fill the frame so I thought I’d just get what I can and crop in. As it worked out this file is as big as that from my 5D2. Have a look at the RAW image below.
Shot on the Phase One 645DF, P65 back with the 150mm f/2.8 IF Phase lens.
OMG this Phase One has redefined photography for me. I have never seen anything like it. I guess the thing is I’ll get used to all that sharpness and dynamic Range. Will have to go back to the 5D every now and then to realise just how much of a jump these cameras really are. I have slowed down and worked on my techniques using the Phase so that is a good thing. Gone are the days of quick handheld snaps and sloppy workmanship. Time to be serious about quality.
This is a pic of my boy, who reluctantly stood still for 5 minutes, it must be horrible having to help poor old dad out every now and then. This image at 100% is stonkin!!
Phase One 645DF, P65, with 80mm f/2.8 Schneider LS
This is Roger Thomas and may I first start by saying that I am in no way responsible for the cloning or ripping off of any site and am deeply distressed by the way my name has been slandered and defamed by people that don’t know me or the first thing about me and to be so judgmental.
I can only offering my sincere regret that this situation that has arisen and also state that I am completely innocent of all the horrid and slanderous accusations being leveled at me. Whereby I truly understand how CF must feel and how shocked you must have been to find your beloved site and all your hard work, to what appears to be, in the hands of someone else let me assure you that it is not as it seems and trust me I am equally shocked at how a simple submission of details for the creation a personal website can morph into something that only Alfred Hitchcock could have thought up.
The background of all this is that I am a humble nobody who two years ago decided to rekindle my previous liking for taking pictures and treating myself to a digital camera. During the ensuing period my liking for photography has developed strongly and attend as many workshops as time and money permits. Since packing my last child off to university photography now fills more of my time and have been getting a lot of positive comments from people and suggestions that I should set up a website and display/sell my handiwork to which I have always responded with I’m not ready for it. However, a chance meeting with an old friend who was a graphic designer and had designed business cards and stationery for me some 15 years ago gave me details for a company which he does the occasional assignment for and said they also designed websites suggesting I contact them when I feel ready. Out of curiosity I contacted these people and ended up giving them a brief outline for the type of site
I would like such as photographic display/gallery, brown background utilising orange/beige and green. These colours I have always had a strong association with throughout various aspects of my life (cars, pets, interiors, clothing etc.—favourite colours) and are complementary to my love of the outdoors/nature. I also stated that these were just tentative enquiries for the future so as and to gain a better insight as to what’s involved and cost.
After some initial communications and basic outline mockups I felt I had sufficient information and said thank you I will be in touch when I am ready. A while later I was contacted by what appeared to be a rather keen developer who I have subsequently found out is not in the UK but based in Russia. I was given a link to a web site he said closely fitted my outline spec in terms of photography, colour and functionality saying this is the type of thing I can have fairly quick and should let him know what I like from what I don’t like about the site. Now, I presumed this is something he is working on. I respond saying that would like the background a slightly darker brown with a hint of red, the lightbox display of images to change, I would want small navigation and shopping cart icons, the whole shopping card process to change……etc, etc, etc.
As I understood it the whole thing was to let me see and get a feel as to what he could do and at no point did he ever suggest anything along the lines that this is not a site he owns or—and to his credit—offered no suggestion of ripping off replacing one name for the other, I was led to believe he was purely using it as an example. Also, I knew no better as I had never heard of CF before. And even when I later looked to see if the actual site existed I was still under the impression that he was somehow connected to the building of the site in particular when I saw a CF post stating that work was being done on the site and that new stuff and blog facility will be appearing soon. I was so impressed by the CF photos and site but not as something that I would want a clone copy of. I do have my own personal taste even if aspects might be similar to countless others that may be out there. I even signed-up for the CF newsletter and was even thinking of how I could make it possi
ble to get on one of the CF workshops and even bought one of the photoshop—Melbourne City—tutorial movie. Therefore I think it would be the ultimate in barefacedness to turn up on a CF workshop with his cloned site bearing my name. I felt fortunate that I had been given a pointer to an excellent artist and site and was truly inspired not filled with avarice.
I have absolutely no idea how this cybernaut acquired/hacked the site for his demo purposes but as an old-school IT person myself all I can say is that he must be a real genius boffin and had I such skills I would need to channel them somewhere too, but in a more circumspect way. Also from the little inside information that I managed to get from the ensuing fallout at the design company is that the person does have over zealous tendencies and throughout the whole process I did not think anything untoward, apart from his pushiness, as all appeared to be fairly kosher, this being my first such experience. I think it was unfortunate for him that I was in no hurry to commit to anything and he left the carrot dangling for me far too long, as from memory he made first contact and had the CF demo site on view over two months ago!
So if it was my scurrilous desire to make-off with the CF site I would surely have done so very quickly, and as first stated, I am completely innocent of these allegations and the have been made physically ill and mentally stressed to see tags linking my name to such things so much so that I have only now been able to return to this site to put the record straight for fear of what more I might find leveled at me. Whilst I fully appreciate the shock and outrage CF must have felt on discovering such a situation I too am more than horrified to find links worldwide on the internet suggesting something that I am not and have not done. I therefore politely ask that my name be removed from all these negative tags and extremely defamatory links that are coming up on google so that I can have my life restored back to humble anonymity and before my children and friends google upon them and I promise that I will NEVER EVER revisit the site for fear of being damned again. I will close b
y asking all those in judgment here whether they would like to be globally maligned in such a manner for something they have not or did not perpetrate. To me the presence of this slur couldn’t be any worst than unknown people creating unjustifiable associations to your name across the internet with pedophilia.
I am selling my trusty 1Ds Mark II to make room for the new Phase One. Looking for $2995, body only. It is still a relevant camera and some of my best images were taken with it. Have a look at this one
Also, one of my all time favourites if you have any doubt about the quality of this camera. I paid $9500 for it and I know you can get a 5D2 for $3500 but you can’t get that thing near any serious dust or water. In fact, and some might say this is a big call, I think the files from the 1ds actually looked better. It is solid, reliable and like all one series Canons indestructible.
Send me an email if you would like it christianfletcher@westnet.com.au
Hi all
Poor young stackky has a nice new website up and going. Go have a look the little fella sure has some talent. I had to buy a Phase One just to keep ahead of him. You can visit it here STAKKY OWES ME MORE FREE BEER
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