Macro

My first experience with the 100 f/2.8 macro has been amazing. I've only had it for a day, but I already am thrilled by the possibilities. There's a whole other world out there I haven't even begun to photograph...

Snapshots

These two photos are the very definition of "snapshots." During our last photoshoot, there were several instances where I saw something cool outside of of the portraits we were taking. So I adjusted my ISO, changed my shutter and aperture, focused, and shot one or two quick shots. And... well... I love them. The first one has an amazing amount of detail. The full resolution shot at the highest quality has detail I never knew existed in the safe before I zoomed in with Adobe Lightroom. The second shows how capable the 5D is with ISO 3200 selected.

Cool, fun stuff.

More Polarizer Magic...

The polarizer comes through again. I can't believe I didn't have this thing in my bag for years. It's definitely going with me everywhere I go, from this point on.
























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Polarizer

I recently got my $80 circular polarizer out, remembering how it used to darken the blues in the skies back in my film days. I'd mostly use it in black and whites to create some dramatic blacks in the sky, and I thought I'd put it to use on my 5D with some photos on a great, blue-sky day.

The two photos above are not adjusted in photoshop at all. The only difference between the two are a quick shift in the circular polarizer, deepening the blues. I'd forgotten how good of a job the polarizer does of it...

This one allowed me to get a great exposure on the statue's face, yet still keep a deep, dark blue in the sky.

In this one, the tombstone had a touching, heart-breaking photograph of an infant. Without the polarizer, there would have been a glossy sheen to the photograph inset, and the glare would have obscured detail. With the polarizer, a little turn takes it all away.

I'd forgotten how cool a polarizer could be, and I'll definitely be using it more soon.

Chicago

Tonight is the first time I really missed my friend Zach. He moved to Chicago recently, and while I wished him the best and knew he'd be successful at whatever he wanted to do, I didn't really miss him. I mean - Chicago is only six hours or so away - that's not too bad, right?

But tonight, while I was grilling chicken and steak in our amazing weather we're having, I had an urge to pick up the phone and invite him over. I had to stop and realize he wouldn't be able to do that.
For the first time, I felt bummed out.

















Here he is, at the top photo in his first art show (he had the coolest stuff, although he didn't sell anything). In the middle he's posing with his amazing girfriend, Emily, and at the bottom is Zach, immortalized, in one of my favorite all-time photos during a trip across Nebraska.

I know he'll always be my friend, and I can't wait to take the time to get out there and visit him and let him show me Chicago... but it's sad that he can't just stop by for a game of Magic, some dinner, and some great conversation about politics, science, and UFC.

He's in Chicago now, venturing to be a photographer.

Good luck, Zach. I have a feeling you'll amaze even yourself.

The Blizzard and the Element

So, I had a few hours to get out there and take some photos of the great "BLIZZARD OF 2007" - according to all the local news stations. We had a lot of snow - but I still wouldn't say it was a "blizzard." For me, a blizzard has to shut down a town for say, at least a week.

I had a few hours to spare, and thought I'd get out there and find some photos. I did find a few - but I didn't have the right shoes on. Amazingly, I forgot to put on my boots, so I had only my flimsy tennis shoes to protect me from the knee-high drifts. Therefore, what you see was taken from my vehicle's window.

And that brings me to the point of this post - the Honda Element ROCKS. Really - I was going down some roads I didn't even know where the road was. It just kept going. Not once did I ever feel like I was in trouble... unless you count the time when I couldn't see the road at all because of all the swirling snow... but we won't count that. That's driver error.

As a photographer, it's nice to have the Element, allowing me the confidence to get where I want to be. These shots wouldn't even have been possible without it, so they are dear to me regardless of their artistic merit.