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What is the correct F-Stop for HDRI?

While re-educating myself on HDRI, I came across a blurb from Professor Kirt Witte at Savannah College of Design (SCAD). He is a certified Maya instructor, a passionate panoramic photographer, a close affiliate of HDRLabs, and overall a really cool guy. His students learn everything about shooting HDRIs, applying them as lighting in Maya, rendering with mental ray. In short, his courses really get you ready for production, and his students regularly get hired at prestigious VFX houses like ILM.

F-stops
Generally f8 or f11 are the sharpest overall areas within a lens. Please notice I did not say that you would get more in focus!? Yes, F22 or F32 will give you more depth of field, but the "middle" f-stops are generally the sharpest overall. I use f8 or f11 for almost all of my HDRs.

To tell the truth, I have been all over the board with my f-stops. F/16 to F/22 for night shots and for closer less static subjects f/5 to f/8 or I just cheat and switch to auto and take the suggestions of the camera.

I just reshot the bike here at work testing Kirt's theory and will post the outcome later when I get home. I only question his theory when it comes to shooting HDRI of flowers for close to realism images where I want to blow out the chaotic background.  It was David Ward that said, "All good photographs are distillations of a scene in which the photographer assiduously chooses which elements of the scene to include or exclude." How is that possible at f/11?
Tell me what you think HDRI fans…

Time Travel in HDRI

Wondering if any of my watchers that are HDRI fans have taken a trip with Mr. Wizard? No, not the 60's kinda trip but the time lapsed kind. I was checking out some old stuff on the Outdoor Photographer Magazine website and came across Chad Richard's page Time Traveler: A journey through time, one frame at a time. One page that rock my world and well I have to give this a go is: How to make an HDR time-lapse [link]

Summary

Create a very high resolution, high dynamic range time-lapse movie. Using HDR software to blend bracketed exposures of the same shot you can create an image that better resembles what the eye sees compared to traditional photography techniques.

A very simple "How To" for the "DIY" HDRI photographer. I have seen some work here on DA similar to Chad's but it is older work. Chad will break it all down for you and give you the best practices to make your work great. Chad's does overlook a few things in this article but make sure you read the comments/faqs which should answer for you.

Send me a link of your work in a note, if you have posted any Time Lapsed or if you give it a try.

My Reading List

The HDRI Handbook: High Dynamic Range Imaging for Photographers and CG Artists +DVD by Christian Bloch
Complete Guide to High Dynamic Range Digital Photography by Ferrell McCollough
Landscape Beyond: A Journey into Photography by David Ward and Joe Cornish

Helpful Links

[link] - Everything you need to know about HDRI a page by Christian Bloch author of The HDRI Handbook: High Dynamic Range Imaging for Photographers and CG Artists

[link] - The makers of Photomatix Pro (the only HDR Utility I will use)

[link] - Adobe TV yes Adobe has videos to help you learn their gateway drug product and all the other products in their arsenal.

HDR New you can use

Here is a bit o new for the HDR lovers. If you didn't already know, there is an update to Photomatix. There is a new and improved Photomatix Pro 3.2. Here is a link that will give you some details. [link] on this page you will find rants on tonemapping. Also you may want to know about the HDR Symposium [link] and "What's Hot on Flickr" [link] CAMBRIDGE GALLERY [link]

New About Me & My Projects

Well I am back to shooting Infrared/HDRI and Landscape, mostly before and after work.  I am doing my best to keep good records of my locations, just in case any of you are planning a trip to Seattle and want to shoot (put don't contact me LOL).
I am working on a 12 image project/series called, "A Man's Apology".

Eye Candy

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Well this weekend’s escape to the mountain did not go as planned but there were lessons learned.  First off I took us in the back way through sunrise a bit out of our way. First stop my mentor realized that he had forgotten his battery and had to use my back camera which had been white balanced for the studio. Then as I drove I noticed a lot of fog seem the clouds were stacking up against the mountain. There was an issue with the online tracking of my BlackBerry, got to remember that there are no antennas out there. Lastly and this was the end of our day, my mentor took ill for some reason. So the trip was mostly a drive through the National Park but not a total loss I did get a few shots but not the places I wanted.

So I have to make another trip but this time I will be more informed and prepared. Instead of trying to do the whole park with a ton of people pouring into the place I think I will pay the fee and hit only a few places and keep an eye on the weather. I have to get in shape for a few of the hikes, getting a shot of Narada Falls from the lower landing and walking back up left me breathing and sweating like a cheerleader being chased by Michael Myers.

As I said this trip was not a total loss. Upon my return to Olympia I was able to stop by a store and pick up that Coke bottle that I have been looking for. The bottle is from 1951 and the letters are I bit faded, a brilliant bottle to shoot.  I also was able to get a Pepsi bottle from the year I was born.  I am not sure if the dates are correct but that’s what the lady was telling me as she trying to sell me the bottles. Still I got them and I am happy and I can work on my series.  When I go back I think I will pick up the Coke can that she had there as well and the 7up bottle.  I am going to have to search and try a local store here in Seattle that has this stuff as well.  


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This weekend I will be embarking on my first ever photographic business trip, a day trip to Mount Rainier National Park, Washington, a free fee day with my mentor. I have plotted out 12 locations that I have to hit which I am sure we will not but it is fun to plan with wishful thinking. During the process of planning this trip I begin to feel like a school boy once again. Lying in my bed with books and magazines sprawled before trying to learn and find out every little thing I can about the park. Planning this trip has renewed my love for the art of photography.
One photographer has been an inspiration in the preparation of this trip, David Ward, one of Britain's most notable landscape photographers. His eye for shape and form is without equal and produces work that is startling in its clarity and intensity. While reading his book "Landscape Beyond" I became enlightened to what photography truly is for me. Well Shelly…  What is photography to you? Well I am glad you asked. It's simple; I like to share the hidden wonders of our everyday surrounding. Couple that with my personal style of photography and the technique of HDR and you've found me.
During this trek I will also be embarking of new conservation action items. Greener Photography Pledge [link] and Timberland Earthkeepers Change agents [link]. On top of that I have made it possible to track my trip via my BlackBerry updated every 30 min:  [link] and [link] (mobile version).
Note: points received before the device was shared may be included in the path.

Trip starts at 4 A.M. Saturday August 15, 2009

Hello All,

Sorry that I have been M.I.A. for a bit.  I am back to work after 3 months so I am not doing as much shooting just yet.  I and my wife are trying to catch up on the bills so that I can shoot more without the worry of how much gas I am burning to get to the locations.  Also, I just got the funds to get my camera a long overdue cleaning.  Cover all that with my son's baseball games and practices.  LOL life is good once again.

The great thing about this time of the year is baseball and watching my son.  One of his coaches is a shutterbug as well so I am thinking that I will be in the bullpen once again shooting the team.

I don't have any projects that I am currently working on.  I have however been thinking about doing a few t-shirt designs, simple funny sayings that come to mind during my day at work.  I will keep you all post on that when it happens.  Should be soon.

Also, I would like to thanks everyone who commented and fav'ed my latest DD and to the awesome new watchers because of the DD.  I should be out in the world soon shooting the spring things as I get closer to paying off a few of my behind bills.

Here are a few shirt that I like.  I really like the style of the artist in these.

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Well it is foggy here in Seattle this morning.  So I guess I will have the pleasure of shooting in the fog.
Here is today’s weather report from my fav weather man, Ollie Williams:
Widespread low clouds and fog. Some areas of partial afternoon clearing then fog and low clouds redeveloping each evening. Highs in the lower 40s in the foggy areas to near 50 in the areas that become partly sunny each afternoon. Lows in the 30s. Light wind.

Thanks Ollie and here are a few images that I found this morning while searching for ideas:

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For Father’s Day this year, after a lot of hinting, my wife and son gave me a Blackberry Curve.  Took me a couple of weeks to find and get into the habit of using the features that were useful to me but once that was done I came up with a plan.  My plan was to use my new smartphone as a tool in my photography.
My plan in part is to start and keep a photographer’s journal, complete with notes and sketches from the locations that I visit. My Blackberry is the second part of this plan, used for completing the data gathered for the journal, mainly GPS locations.  This will help me if I return to a location to reshoot in different light or time of day; all in a notebook that I can keep in my camera bag.
The Curve has a long list of features which makes it an outstanding Smartphone but there are a select few that prove useful to the photographer.  Weather is by far one of the most important things that I need to know about when considering any outside photography.  For that I installed an application called, “Pocket Express” which gives me current forecast as well as 7 days of weather that I can plan my shoots around.  Another application that I use and have installed for photography is, “Where”.  This is a manager of applications in sorts that you can add other sub-applications too.  I use it for checking Flickpics, photos by other shutterbugs that may have done a shoot in the area I am shooting and “GeoWikipedia” for names of buildings and parks surrounding me.  Another important tool that I use for metadata or Exif data is the built in GPS technology. This goes into my notes in my journal as well as post-process in Photoshop.  I can tag the photo with this info as well as other notes.  Voice Note I use to keep notes when I am caring to much gear, mostly when it is raining. The calculator is another built in tool that is very useful, which I use to calculate exposures in difficult lighting.  Not to just brush over the camera phone that I use for finding the right composition, plotting depth of field, selecting the right lens to use and how I should use a ND Filter in a scene.
These are only a few of the features that I have found and use that have not only saved me time and weight but money as well. I shoot with an older Nikon DSLR which is not compatible with the new Wi-Fi wireless transmitter and standard antenna units needed to tag my images with GPS Exif data.  If it were, I would have to shell out over $500 bucks for the two units on top of the $1200 for the camera body.  The Blackberry I got for $100 bucks with a $100 buck rebate on an upgrade.  Free is always in the budget.
My Blackberry Curve is a low budget way of keeping up with the high tech speeds of Photography.  Oh, did I forget to mention that I can upload directly to Flickr with GPS tagging as well as check my Facebook or MySpace in addition to sending texts or making calls while I am out in the field?  In closing, it is hands down one of the most valuable tools in my camera arsenal and I wonder what new features the Blackberry Storm will bring to the photographer.

Here are a few features that I would use my Blackberry on the shoot:



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Well fellow shutterbugs, old Shelly is sick.  No I don't have a cold, I am sick of not shooting.  I have been working on my images for my 2009 calendar and well my focus has shifted.  I hate that.  

In my time without a camera glued to my face (I am such a Nikon whore), I have been reading up on this gray card that I purchased.  On the back of it are the instructions which just happen to be, "The Zone System of Photography For Perfect Prints, Negatives & Slides".  Complete with Recommended Reading and how to determine Color Balance.  What I am trying to say here fellow photogs is this one page has said that I am a lazy photographer.  I am just one step above the guy with the Nikon D3 or any other camera that costs an arm and a leg that still has his camera set to "AUTO".  

It is not a matter of what I focus on because I have a long list of things that I love to shoot.  No, it's more of how it is capture and if it is the correct way.  Like many of you I went through the school of teaching myself photography.  Just another way of saying I do a lot of guess work.  And I guess I am doing it right until I find a book that tells me otherwise but then I question if the book or author know what the hell they are talking about (those who don't teach).  Still the Zone System, I have to be an ass not to know that I am learning the correct way.  
Well breaks over got to make more calls before I can get out there and shoot some frames today, I will do better, I am sure of it.  

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I have been going through some of my old photos, looking to find something new in image I’ve never posted.  I have found that I hate all my old work, even the good image that I have posted.  I tell ya it is a clean bitch learning and evolving.  Maybe I am just a tad bit over critical of my own work, but I have found some many things that I’ve done wrong and would have like to have done better.  But the change has been for the better.
I like my new work, but it is not at the level I want it.  Still, I think some of you have seen the change in my work and have asked if I got a new camera.  No, I got a mentor and I am no longer playing photo roulette.  I have a Nikon D70s (Kelly) and a Nikon Coolpix 8700 (Barbra).  I name them because they both are unlike anyone else’s camera.  I had to learn how to make them do.  Sure there is a manual for each but the rules don’t apply here.  I can’t just set my camera to the setting I see on someone DA image or out of a book and capture the same image.  Something is going to be a little off because my cameras are different by the way I care for them, the way that I carry them around looking for that perfect shot and most important, the way that I shoot.  I guess you can say that I have become part of my camera like a lover (hell that’s my wife keeps telling me).  Your camera is who you are.
Here is my case and point: Every image posted after “Fall of Isolation” was taken with a semi-broken lens.  My camera and lens took a nose dive from atop my P.O.S. tripod, landing on my Nikkor VR 70-300mm F/4.5-5.6 G (James).  One of the most expensive lenses in my bag.  The lens is kind of fine but if you shake it you can hear it rattle a bit.  After testing for a day I found a work flow to get it to work the way I want it to work.  
So in a nut shell, I will not be looking back any more, my focus will be to evolve.

Brilliant Daily Deviation Suggests Features:

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Well, the last few weeks have been a kick.  Out in the cool air chillin (I mean it is cold out there LOL) with the camera shooting close up stuff that seem to work out pretty well.  I have been studying while looking for work.  Brushing up on the HDR, Exposures and photography (got a few new books on each).  

So now I am going to kick it old school for a bit.  I am breaking out the old Nikon Coolpix 8700 for a bit.  I want to make sure that I master every camera that I currently have and shoot with before I lay down the ends for a new Nikon D90 and a VR 80-400 Nikkor.  First off I need to get back to the infrareds; there have been a lot of people here on DA posting brilliant works and I want to make sure the kid doesn't get left behind.

I also wanted to feature some of the works that have inspired me to get my bum into gear and get back to what I love.  The feature of my works is not only my latest but also some of my past works.  Enjoy…

S.N.Alexander

Brilliant Features of Others:

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My Features:



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Hello All,

I am still looking for a job but I have come to realize that I don't have doo on me and I am not the reason I am not getting calls for emplyment.  It is tuff all over and I may not get calls for work until after the election.  In the meantime I am going to enjoy life and get back to what I love...  Photography.  More to the point IR HDR and/or Digital Neg.  I am going to make a run at enjoyinh my time off, thanks to Mr. Bush.

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Ok where the hell is Shelly and what has he been up to:

I have been working and making some moves because my company has done away with my department.  Because I have been looking for a J.O.B. I have not been shooting.  

Things are looking up now.  I have a few interview today which means I will be relaxed enough to start shooting again.

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So I have taking to shooting people again.  NO not shooting them bang bang but click click.  I have started a new account for the focus on my portriats etc. I will be deleting and moving all the images of people here on surrealeye to

Here is a sample of what I have done so far:




I will still be posting my landscape and nightphotography images here but if you want to keep up with my people stuff, you know where to find me.

Shelly
The Bad & The Beautiful

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