akphotograph
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Posts posted by akphotograph
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<p>My last wedding the bride showed me a picture of sparklers around a couple and asked if I could do it. Since I do a lot of night photography chasing the aurora I said sure. This is what we came up with:<br /><a href="http://www.wasillawedding.com/2013/01/light-painting-with-sparklers/">http://www.wasillawedding.com/2013/01/light-painting-with-sparklers/</a><br>
5 second exposure, f5.6 ISO 100. </p>
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<p>I use Photomatix almost exclusively. I have tried Photoshop Merge to HDR and HDR Efex from Nik, but I always go back to Photomatix. </p>
<p>I have a blog post where I discuss my reasoning for using HDR here. <a href="http://www.akphotograph.com/Alaska%20Blog/?p=808">http://www.akphotograph.com/Alaska%20Blog/?p=808</a> I published the setting I use also. I was asked constantly what my settings were so I created this blog post back in 2009.<br>
I shot Canon so I use -2, 0, +2 three exposures. Sure wish Canon would give us more options.</p>
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<p>I have Nik Color Efex 4.0 and can not live without it now. My flow is crop, keyword in Lightroom, launch into Photoshop CS5, do adjustments with Nik Color Efex. The new filter called Detail Enhancer is a great one. I was able to bring back light under the wings of a bald eagle with that filter <a href="http://www.akphotograph.com/Alaska%20Blog/?p=4687">http://www.akphotograph.com/Alaska%20Blog/?p=4687</a> . The ability to stack filters is a huge plus in Color Efex 4.0.</p>
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<p>I have been using HDR and tonemapping since 2008. Almost all my landscapes are tonemapped images. I used to only do the extra shots when the histogram was pushing too hard to one side or the other, now if I have my camera on a tripod, I shoot over and under exposures.<br>
My stock photo company told me that Alaska Magazine does not accept HDRs. Guess what, I have a HDR published in the November 2011 issue...a 2 page spread.<br>
This HDR <a href="http://www.akphotograph.com/Alaska%20Blog/?p=4550">http://www.akphotograph.com/Alaska%20Blog/?p=4550</a> has made me in excess of $12000 in the past 3 years. It has been on calendar covers, cruise brochures, pipeline literature, magazines, postcards and newspapers. <br>
HDR and tonemapping are an art, do what looks good to you and see what responses you get.</p>
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<p>Good advice, I had my 7D out last weekend on a hike at -15 F. These cameras are built well, had my 5D mark II with me in -40 degree weather. I shoot a lot of dog mushing events, laying in the snow or on my backpack. This weekend it was -4 F and I shot for an hour and a half on one battery.</p>
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<p>What fantastic examples, I see a new wide angle lens in my future.<br>
Mike<br>
<a href="http://www.akphotograph.com/Alaska%20Blog/">Alaska Blog</a></p>
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<p>Shane,<br>
I have the 24-105 on my 5D mark II and have it on there 80 percent of the time. It is a great landscape lens, I generally do not need to go wider.<br>
I also have the 70-200 f2.8 IS that I use when I need a faster lens. I have been using it on more landscape shots too.<br>
BTW, I sold my 40D almost 2 years ago and have kept that 17-55 lens, I loved that lens and hope to use it on a future back-up body.<br>
Mike<br>
<a href="http://www.akphotograph.com/Alaska%20Blog/">http://www.akphotograph.com/Alaska%20Blog/</a></p>
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<p>Beautiful moon shot! I use my 400mm with a 1.4 tele converter and put this composite together:<br>
Tell us more about the telescope...adapter, is the tripod steady enough? ,have you shot anything else with it?</p>
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<p>I still have my 17-55mm even though I sold my 40D and got a 5D mark II. It is a fantastic lens and I plan on getting a back up APS camera soon.</p>
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<p>I love my 100-400 L IS. My favorite lens for sure. I only pull out my 70-200 L 2.8 when light fades. Almost all my eagle photos were with the 100-400.<br>
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<p>All fantastic advice. I like going into the park later in the year when fall colors are out. You do take a chance on the park closing the road due to weather. I have been lucky enough to get lottery tickets the last few years. It allows the ticket holder to drive the entire 90 mile road in your private vehicle. It is in the middle of Sept. and the views and colors can be amazing. Might even catch one of these on the side of the road:<br>
http://akphotograph.zenfolio.com/favorites/hb78cda6#hb78cda6</p>
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<p>The drive to Homer is a fantastic drive. In July the eagles will be stalking the fisherman at the Russian River. Be sure to look up in the trees when you come to the turnoff to Homer or Seward they are usually there if the fish are. <br />There are a couple pull offs where you might spot a bear on the opposite bank.<br>
Most of my eagle shots I got in Homer when the Eagle Lady, Jean was there:<br>
http://akphotograph.zenfolio.com/eagles/h38920c23#h38920c23<br>
I did capture several great shots in the Juneau area as well:<br>
http://akphotograph.zenfolio.com/favorites/h16b87bef#h16b87bef<br>
Good luck and enjoy your Alaska trip.</p>
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<p>I live in Alaska and keep my 100-400mm lens on my 5DM2 body at all times, I love that lens. I have the 1.4x converter but have not put it on in a long time. Most all of my eagle shots were taken with this lens:<br>
http://akphotograph.zenfolio.com/eagles/h38920c23#h38920c23<br>
I drive around with it next to me in my truck...never know when a moose and calfs will step out:<br>
http://akphotograph.zenfolio.com/p583444847/h37500dd8#h37500dd8</p>
<p> </p>
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<p>I use the Benro Travel Angel, wonderful tripod...I reviewed it here:<br>
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<p>Nathan, you didn't say what software you were using. In my opinion Photomatix is the best for HDR and tonemapping work. I put a short tutorial and Photomatix settings on my blog. Give it a shot and let me know how it went.<br /> <br /> http://www.akphotograph.com/Alaska%20Blog/?p=1998</p>
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<p>I love my 580EX II. I also have two 430EX IIs. I use the 580 to trigger the 430s off camera. If I only could have one flash, it would be the 580(used off camera of course).</p>
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<p>LR2/Photoshop CS4 combo for me...seamless. I also start a new catalog every year. Lightroom slows down on my PC when it gets to 15 or 20 thousand images. Wish LR could search through all catalogs!</p>
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<p>I just did a tutorial on how I approach the subject of watermarking with Lightroom.<br>
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<p>Lawrence,<br>
Be sure to stop in Talkeetna on the way to or from Fairbanks. If it is clear, the view of Denali is spectacular and you do not have to stay up half the night to get a sunset shot:) K2 Aviation operates during the winter and if you have the money, they will take you on a tour. I flew with them a couple years ago and got stuck for 4 days in the middle of nowhere, we saw -46 degrees F. in Feb.<br>
I went to college in Fairbanks, it can be bitter cold. The advice given so far has been excellent, you should be well prepared. I would second the recommendation to head for Chena Hot Springs.<br>
Not sure why you want to fly to a Native village in the winter. Most are very small and hard to get to. Once you get off the plane, some are 2 miles from the airport with no transportation. I travel throughout the state and would not recommend going to a small village in the winter, you can get stuck for days if the weather moves in. Alaska Airlines flys to Nome, it has hotels, bars and a chance to see the lights as well.<br>
Mike</p><div>
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<p>Heading south from Anchorage there is a Y in the road, left takes you to Seward, right takes you to Homer, Kenai, Soldotna. Look in the trees on the other side of the river. If there are fish, there will be eagles. Usually means there will be bears as well.<br>
Just south of Russian River fishing area you will find combat fishermen, eagles hang out there as well.<br>
I actually have several blog posts on photographing eagles. Here is one where I filmed the eagles in Homer with my 5D mark II.<br>
Good Luck and enjoy your stay,<br>
Mike</p>
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I have had very good luck with my Canon 2x and 70-200 2.8. A fast lens helps.
Lightroom presets
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