Jarrod’s Photography Blog

I was on my way back from my Doctor’s appointment today and about 1/2 mile from home I noticed that the sunset and the clouds were painting a great scene across the sky.  Since I was so close to home, I just pulled into the driveway, grabbed my camera and tripod and headed back to a spot about 1/2 mile from our house.  Here in Surprise nestled between the sub-divisions, are working farms and ranches which make for great foregrounds for the amazing sunsets we get here.  I was able to snap a few scenes and took them back for processing.  I only shot 6 scenes but the coolest thing was that this was only 1/2 mile from my house.  I didn’t need to travel or get all prepared for this shoot.  Sometimes, a close, simple locale and some spontaneity can go a long way.

Processing Notes:  My workflow includes My HDR application, a freeware noise reducer (which I use occasionally to reduce color noise prior to HDR processing) and Photoshop Elements (used primarily for color adjustments, specific actions as well as some cropping if needed).

And here are the results of this impromptu shoot.  These HDR Images are comprised of 3 exposures (-1, 0, +1 EV (using AEB)), Matrix Metering Mode, Aperture priority, manual focus,  f/22 and processed with Dynamic PhotoHDR 4.01 and Photoshop Elements 7.0. 

Looking west to the White tanks - Cattle Ranch

Looking North across the canal

West - sunset over the white tanks

Ghost Truck - Truck went through my scene on the 2nd exposure - kind of a cool effect

Sunset - looking west across a farm to the white tanks

Awesome Cloud formations over a farm (facing south)

Gallery of the photos is here:

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As my wife’s photography endeavors take off, I am the lucky recipient of the tools of her trade.  Previously I used Picasa and Fireworks for post-processing and image correction.  Now we have Photoshop [elements] and with my broken pelvis, I’ve had lots of time to work with it.  My first activities were finding some great actions and learning to work with layers and layer masks.  Quite amazing.  I’m still learning but I did want to share some of what I was able to do with some of the pics I took out at the AZ state cyclocross championships. 

All the pics I took  from the event (all riders accounted for) are located here.

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Since I broke my pelvis back in October, I haven’t had the ability to really shoot or focus on photography (or anything else that requires mobility for that matter).  Well, that is until We went to the desert for Thanksgiving.  Being on crutches I knew I would be limited in terms of where I could shoot.  But, thanks to 4 wheel drive and some family members, I was able to get back into Shell Canyon and get some shots just for fun.  Here’s a shot of me all bundled up about to head up the canyon for the shots…it was COLD!

Shell Canyon is the Canyon right off of S2 in Southern California in the Anza Borrego Desert.  My grandparents have some property there and we’ve been coming here to ride mcycles and quads since I was a baby.  So, the area, formally known as Ocotillo, holds some special memories for me.  HDR is a great way to capture the true beauty and contrast of the canyon.  The colors are amazing.  It’s a geologists paradise due to the many types of rock and soil around.  Paleontologists from all over come here to fossil hunt as well.  But, I was here for one thing…some HDR scenes.  As I had mentioned, I was able to get to the mouth of the canyon with the 4wheel drive ‘Burb.  Then, I did the all-terrain crutch thing!  It was challenging but with my dad toting my gear, I was able to get a few shots.  And here they are (images are combinations of 3-4 shots at (-2) -1, 0, +1 EV):

Once I am healed up I will be investing in my cable release and a better tripod – need that to really start capturing more dynamic scenes that require 5-7 shots with +/- EV.

Gallery:

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I went to India and Singapore on business in late September.  I had been to Singapore 3 times before in 2006 and focused on architecture shots.  This time, I did not bring my SLR.  Instead, I brought a little point and shoot – all-be-it a nice one, it wasn’t an SLR.  But, it had enough options to get a few decent shots.  I of course am a huge fan of tone-mapping and HDR so I took the following pics knowing I’d be doing pseudoHDR (tone-mapped single image).

Hoping to get out to shoot sometime in the future but work, family, travel and now my injury  have been dominating my time lately.

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Taken in late spring at the White Tank Mountains. Single image at 0EV - pseudoHDR - tone mapped.

Single image - 0EV - pseudoHDR - tone mapped. Several "clean" filters run against image in post-processing to give it a very smooth and subtle painted look.

 

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