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Saturday, September 29, 2007

Scenic Drives of the Wild West


This picture is featured at Deviant Art http://www.deviantart.com/print/1831418/

This is one of the many scenic drives that you com across in the vast open roads of America। You may drive for miles and miles on these roads and not see a single human being for hours.


There is so much Dynamic range in this Photo. This is not an HDR. I have done is some minor Level and color saturation adjustments to get this. Propoer HDRs are impossible to do when u are moving at 70 miles an hour because you cannot get multiple exposures from the same point/camera position. It is possible to fake an HDR by using a single RAW image as input.

This was taken from a car moving at over 70 miles per hour. We were coming back from the Arches National Park, Utah.

The Road was very scenic with the Hills on the left , open Roads and beautiful cloud formations. A Hoya Multi coated Circular Polarizer was used.

What you need to remember for taking these kind of shots:

1) When you are moving, as in this case, i am moving in a car, the shutter speed should be atleast inverse of 3 times the focal length u are using. Here i am using a focal length of 54 mm and my shutter speed is 1/200 this saves me from camera shake

2) Keep the horizon straight. It may not me easy when you are moving, you can always correct it later.

3) Rule of thirds is more like a guideline and not actually a rule. If you have the time to compose the shot try to follow it. In this case i was in a car moving at over 70 miles an hour. Composing was not really an option. In these cases you can always frame the shot loose and then correct it later.

Tecnical Details:

Camera: Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi
Exposure: 0.005 sec (1/200)
Aperture: f/11
Focal Length: 54 mm
ISO Speed: 100
Exposure Bias: 0/3 EV

Tuesday, September 18, 2007

Preview: Canon Powershot G9


Canon Powershot G9

Key Features:

RAW Shooting Capability

12.1 mega pixel resolution

6x optical zoom with Optical Image Stabilizer

Large 3 inch LCD Screen

Face Detection

23 Shooting modes

RAW+JPEG Shooting

DIGIC III Image processor

Takes powerful Speedlite Flashes

Recommended for:
If you are serious about photography and dont want to carry a lot of camera Equipment. Also a good second camera for SLR owners.

Detailed Reviews at:
http://reviews.cnet.com/digital-cameras/canon-powershot-g9/4505-6501_7-32471273.html
http://www.dpreview.com/news/0708/07082005canong9.asp

When looking for a new camera, Beware of fraudulent sellers who advertise very low price
Buy from a reputed store like amazon.

Monday, September 17, 2007

Bear Lake, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado

This is an HDR (I will post an article on High Dynamic Range photography soon) rendering of Bear Lake inside Rocky Mountain National Park. I have been to this National Park several times and i still don't get bored. There is always something new to see and learn here. Bear Lake is one of the well known spots inside the park and its a very short trail to here. Unlike some other exotic places inside the park, this one is very accessible. The above picture was taken late in the evening before sunset. I liked the colors cast on the distant mountain and the reflection in the lake. I set up my tripod inside the Lake and was standing in water to take this picture. Technically the picture could have been improved if i was using a polarizer. But then that will keep be going back there again.. in search of the perfect light and shots. Thats what photography and exploring light is all about.

Technical Details
HDR Rendered from Three Different Exposures
Aperture: f18
Shutter Speed: 1.6 sec, 0.4 Sec and 0.8 sec
Focal length: 21mm

Saturday, September 15, 2007

Deers spotted at Royal Gorge



This pic was taken at the Royal Gorge, Colorado which is promoted as Colorado's Natural Wonder. We had finished our day there and were heading back to the Car parking when these deers appeared from no where. They were crossing the road into another part of the wilderness. I took my camera and quickly fired off. Did not get much time to frame and all. But it turned out okay. Applied a little warming tint to the picture to set a mood.

Technical Data:
Camera: Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi
Exposure: 0.003 sec (1/400)
Aperture: f/13
Focal Length: 48 mm
ISO Speed: 400
Exposure Bias: 0/3 EV

Please let me know if you need any more info