36 Cool Photography Links

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There are some great photographs and articles out there in the realm of photography this week.  In this weeks list we find Toad Hollow Photography searching all over the internet for the best links to tutorials, special features, great photography and interesting blogs to discuss and share.  We really hope you enjoy seeing these images and reading these interested posts as much as the Toad did himself in bringing this list to you.

TUTORIALS

What You Didn’t Know About the Story of HDR Photography – as many of you who may follow my practice already know, I love applying HDR techniques to images we create.  This great article hosted right here on Light Stalking comes to us from Jason Row and it talks about the history and future of this technique.  Hint: it’s a lot older than most people think.

Christopher Cook
Christopher Cook

5 Best Primes for Photojournalism – Gannon Burgett shares a great list of 5 prime lenses that every photojournalist could use at some point in their practice.  This list, and the accompanying reasons behind the specific selections, is not only applicable in the field of photojournalism, but is also very useful for anyone working events or weddings capturing candid shots of the day as it unfolds.

Using Lightroom Presets to Create Dramatic Black and White Photos – this video tutorial is just under 12 minutes in length and is a true treasure-chest of information for everyone who loves to process shots in black-and-white.  We are taken step-by-step through the process in the video, using real photographs and seeing the effects of the changes underway, and then we are taught how to create powerful presets that make future processing a true breeze for a consistent look.

Shaping Hard Light from a Small Off-Camera Flash for Dramatic Portraits – only a few minutes are needed to take in the key tips and tricks offered in this tutorial that includes a brief video presentation.  Illustrative photographs showcase the effects that can be achieved with this simple lighting setup that is extremely portable.

driver Photographer
driver Photographer

Getting the Best Colors in Your Portraits – this feature article discusses managing colors in portraiture and how it effects the results in a very dramatic way if done well.  A series of sample shots are included to highlight the points covered, adding an important element to the overall article and concepts shared.

SPECIAL FEATURES

This Photographer Does Photo Shoots on a 350ft Cliff – some practitioners of photography have absolutely no fear, finding themselves in highly perilous situations and locations as they strive to capture that next great shot.  Jay Philbrick is one such artist, taking his clients to a sheer rock face and having them situated on a small rock outcropping as he happily snaps around them.  The results are vertigo inducing and amazing at the same time.

Photographer Vincent Laforet Gives a TEDx Talk About His AIR Project – this video presentation features a TEDx Talk that focuses on a project that takes us high into the air where we get to observe dynamic cities and landscapes below.  The talk is truly inspirational, and the images Vincent Laforet has created serve to give us all a new vantage of the concept of community thriving within an active city.

GREAT PHOTOGRAPHY

Paul van Bueren: Classic Cool Large Format Analog Portraits – this incredible set of portraits is accompanied by an interview with photographer Paul van Bueren.  Using a large format film camera, Paul creates lasting images that have a distinctly classic look to them.  All the portraits capture the character and spirit of the subject, accented perfectly by Paul’s artistic vision in terms of lighting and the surroundings.

Hefin Owen
Hefin Owen

Foggy evening on Bled lake at winter – Roland Barát composes this magical shot in the heart of winter, finding the lake and the old monastery on Lake Bled under a light cloak of fog as a snowy landscape presents itself.  The mood in this shot from the natural conditions adds a wonderful feel to the picture, delivering a mystical scene that has stood for countless centuries.

Nubble Light – this lighthouse in Maine is an often photographed subject, creating endless compositional opportunities in a wide variety of weather and lighting conditions.  In this great shot, Michael Criswell visits the site under a vibrant blue sky, helping to make the colors of the facility pop against a beautiful coastline.

A. color – the skeletal remains of a wooden ship lie prone in what looks to be a desert environment, creating a composition that defines the expression artistic tension in all the questions that linger for the viewer.  Isidoro M’s shot is haunting and provoking at the same time, creating a piece that is so alluring it’s hard to take your eyes off of it.

Lost in the Palouse – Pullman, Washington – sometimes getting lost creates the most serendipitous series of events to unfold, as happened here to Len Saltiel as he explored the vast landscapes referred to as the Palouse in the Northwestern United States.  This shot features an old wooden barn that may or may not be abandoned, literally oozing character in it’s old weathered textures.

john mcsporran
john mcsporran

Ethereal Blanket – Jeff Lewis takes us deep into the heart of Yosemite where he captures this stunning snow covered landscape shot that exudes a feel of deep etherealism in it’s mood.  In the backdrop we see the rugged mountains jutting out from the horizon, creating a sense of depth that showcases the natural beauty of the location.

Local Fare ~ C.M.O.G. – A. D. Wheeler brings us along as he explores the Corning Museum Of Glass on the east coast of the United States.  A. D.’s shots are all terrific, but when taken in with the context of the article he wrote that discusses the history behind the pieces featured, the presentation takes on a new life, literally compelling us all to get out there and find these local gems and explore them personally.

Boscombe pier – the power and feel of long exposure photography comes to life in this terrific shot from Andreas Jones.  A marvellous pier with great detail leads the viewer through the frame out into the distance where a beautifully colored sky highlights the sense you get from the silky waters captured with the long exposure.

Traversing The Veins – this terrific HDR shot from Brad Truxell allows us to enjoy the city of Pittsburgh from a unique vantage point that literally pops out of the screen in rich detail and color.  Fast moving light trails on the streets below create a sense of the dynamic, juxtaposed against the crisp, sharp details of the dramatic architecture that envelops the scene.

Let me in II – this shot by Roland Shainidze shows us how a minimalistic composition can create a truly powerful image.  Here we find ourselves in a presumably dark room with a door opened just a sliver to let a strong beam of light in, creating a great sense of artistic tension in a truly simple scene.

Abandoned On The River Road – Jim Denham captures this dramatic shot using a long exposure, creating a sky with a sense of motion against the core subjects that are long abandoned and standing still in the landscape.  This great shot features predominantly blue tones which accent the overall drama of the abandoned building and the tank that lie in the foreground.

Michael Vines
Michael Vines

Twilight – as the light of day fades leaving behind blue tones in the sky that also has dramatic clouds hanging overhead, a city below twinkles.  Rune Hansen captures this picture from an elevated perspective, allowing us to see over the horizon and adding great depth to the composition.

Bits and bobs from London – Jim Nix shares an assortment of terrific shots he has captured during visits to London.  Each of them exposes a different feature of this old city, sharing a little of the character and spirit that the community has created and fostered over many years.

Eltz castle – follow the stone walkway as it leads you up to the entrance of a medieval castle peering out from a thick fog in this epic shot from Max Conrad.  A silhouette of the castle is barely visible as you meander visually into the frame, creating a haunting image that is sure to capture your mind and imagination.

Revisiting the Wrightsville – Columbia Bridge – beautiful blue hues dance across this wonderful shot from Jimi Jones, featuring the dramatic architecture of an important bridge against the backdrop of a wonderful sunset.  The river that it crosses is frozen in this picture, adding a wonderful element to the composition.

Church of the Good Shepherd – photographer Julien Folcher captures this incredible shot at just the right time during the later part of the blue hour.  Julien’s composition features a blanket of stars hanging in the sky with this world-famous stone church sitting below on a stark landscape, creating an almost magical image that is sure to be enjoyed by everyone.

A cubist canvas – Andy Hooker (LensScaper) shares a great shot that takes on strong abstract qualities in this post.  By using the reflective surface of a modern building, Andy takes advantage of the natural bends and waves in the sheets of glass to capture a compelling reflection of the buildings that stand around it.

atomic80
atomic80

Layers – once again we discover that Mother Nature herself is the best abstract artist working today, in this case creating a curling wave that exhibits wonderful colors and shapes that draw the eye into the frame.  Warren Keelan’s composition is a powerful one, revealing in a single frame the power and fury of nature and the beauty this produces.

Outdoor Piano – Black and White – a slightly weathered and worn piano makes for a compelling subject in this black-and-white piece from Mark Garbowski.  The finishing touch, however, is found in the subtle reflection of an Airstream logo in the glass, adding a touch of artistic tension to a very dramatic image.

Sunrise at Moulton – this world-famous barn is a draw for photographers who come from far and wide to capture shots of it’s inherent character in various times of the year and under various lighting conditions.  This rendition from Perri Schelat features a strong purple palette of tones as the sunrise greets the day and bathes the entire scene in wonderful color.

WW2 Mulberry at Dusk – Barry Turner captures a very dramatic image featuring the remains of a WW2 pontoon that didn’t see action as it lies prone today in a harbor, becoming visible at low tide.  The incredible colors in the sky from the last light of day creates a sense of wonder and hope contrasting the haunting outline of the remains of the artifact.

INTERESTING BLOGS

Ted Grant, father of Canadian photojournalism, receives Order of Canada – I just love it when I see that someone who has made an indelible mark on the artform of photography has been recognized as a leader in the field.  This brief article discusses the career of Ted Grant, a lifetime and famous Canadian photographer who has taken some incredible pictures over the course of his lengthy career.

Meet Al Hill, the sole resident of the world's largest abandoned building – as a photographer who loves forgotten and abandoned things, the concept of living in such a huge facility is truly mouth-watering.  Join Al Hill as he shares his experiences and hopes and dreams all the while living in what once was the bustling Packard factory in the heart of Detroit in this special feature.

About Author

I am a fine arts photographer that specializes in HDR techniques. Please feel free to visit our Limited Edition Prints site, our Online Gallery or our lively Photoblog.

Hi how have you been? Question for you. I’m not a huge fanatic of HDR but under the section “Traversing The Veins – this terrific HDR shot from Brad Truxell…” do you have any guidance on how the downtown Pittsburgh [and other HDR photos] were achieved? I wouldn’t mind trying to simulate something close to this particular HDR effect. I would use Photomatix or Luminosity Masking but I tend to see more Photomatix in these. Thanks for any input!

Jay

Great question, Jay! I shoot a LOT of HDR in my practice, so your question is in my proverbial wheelhouse. I find the best way to create shots just like that is to use a tripod and shoot with aperture priority with your brackets. Typically I shoot 7 brackets for any shot I make, ranging from -3 to +3 on the exposures. From there, I merge those brackets in Photomatix, careful to avoid clipping at all costs unless it’s part of the artistic vision you are going for. From there, I bring the resultant TIF file into Lightroom for finishing, usually making fairly minor adjustments to overall exposure, contrast, and a touch of color, all to personal preference. Learning to create your own style in Photomatix can take a bit of time as there are many adjustment sliders that cause large adjustments to the tonemapping you are working on, but once you find a style that works for you, you can apply those settings to future shots fairly easily. If you have any specific questions, please don’t hesitate to ask them, I love to share information in the community as much as possible!

My low-grade Canon 60D can only shoot 3 bracketed shots in one exposure sequence. If I am very, very careful with motion on the tripod, do you suppose clock down a bunch of stops, and then clock up a bunch of stops, and retain the three centered over metered exposure? I know Photomatix can do some corrections to very minor shifts. Does that make sense?

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