Tuesday (12-April-2011) — New Jersey

Indoor Springtime Nature in New Jersey.

Creepy Crawler on the Ceiling — Or Why I Can’t Sleep at Night. I saw this above my bed tonight (or is it this morning?). Out of focus image taken with a Leica D-Lux 5 (with flash). Raw image processed and converted to B&W with Capture One Pro.

Creepy Crawler on the Ceiling Above My Bed. Snapshot taken with a Leica D-Lux 5 (ISO 100, 19.2 mm, f/3.3, 1/125 sec) (David J Mathre)
Creepy Crawler on the Ceiling Above My Bed. Snapshot taken with a Leica D-Lux 5 (ISO 100, 19.2 mm, f/3.3, 1/125 sec)

Monday (11-April-2011) — New Jersey

Backyard Springtime Nature in New Jersey.

Why Are You Pointing That Big Black Lens At ME??? As usual there were several deer in my back yard this afternoon. I took this image hand held with a Nikon D3x and 200-400 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 200, 400 mm, f/4, 1/250 sec). Image processed with Capture One Pro, Focus Magic, and converted to jpg with Photoshop CS5. It was 85°F (unusual for this early in the Spring) and I am sure that the deer wanted to stay in the shade. They obviously have forgotten the one they lost in my garden last winter.

Why are you pointing that big black lens at me? Deer in my back yard. Spring in New New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 200-400 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 200, 400 mm, f/4, 1/250 sec). (David J Mathre)
Why are you pointing that big black lens at me? Deer in my back yard. Spring in New New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 200-400 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 200, 400 mm, f/4, 1/250 sec).

Sunday (10-April-2011) — New Jersey

Springtime in New Jersey.

Snapshot of the CSX 7683 engine at a rail road crossing near my home in New Jersey. Getting a “grab” shot with a point & shoot camera is a challenge. After coming to a stop at the RR crossing, I had to get the camera out of my pocket, remove the lens cover, turn the camera on, adjust the zoom, and try to compose the image through the front window of my car. This was the second shot, and I was lucky get the train in the center. I didn’t get the best composition with the full rail road crossing sign being clipped at the top. Composition with a point & shoot camera requires a lot of luck with the delay between hitting the shutter button and the actual shutter release, and trying to compose the image with the rear LCD display. The other problem I discovered after the fact, was the camera was in “manual focus” mode, so focus for this image was just lucky.

CSX 7683 Engine at Local Rail Road Crossing in Skillman, New Jersey. Snapshot taken with Leica D-Lux 5 (ISO 100, 14.9 mm, f/4.5, 1/800 sec). (David J Mathre)
CSX 7683 Engine at Local Rail Road Crossing in Skillman, New Jersey. Snapshot taken with Leica D-Lux 5 (ISO 100, 14.9 mm, f/4.5, 1/800 sec).

Three-Years Ago (09-April-2008) — Arizona

Page Arizona Photography Workshop with Winston Hall. Day 2: Upper Antelope Canyon.

Nik recently upgraded its Silver Efex Pro plug-in for Photoshop CS5 to version 2. The following images of the Upper Antelope Canyon were taken during a Page Arizona photography workshop lead by Winston Hall.  The raw images were processed with Capture One Pro, converted to tiff and transferred to Photoshop CS5, then converted to B&W using the new Silver Efex Pro plug-in. The conversion used the default “Fine Art #19” settings. Make a comment to this blog post, or send me an e-mail if you see the ghost in one of the images.

Upper Antelope Canyon, Page Arizona. Image taken with a Nikon D3 camera and 14-24 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 200, 24 mm, f/16, 15 sec). Image processed with Capture One Pro. Converted to B&W with NIK Silver Efex Pro 2 (David J Mathre)
Upper Antelope Canyon, Page Arizona. Image taken with a Nikon D3 camera and 14-24 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 200, 24 mm, f/16, 15 sec). Image processed with Capture One Pro. Converted to B&W with NIK Silver Efex Pro 2
Upper Antelope Canyon, Page Arizona. Image taken with a Nikon D3 camera and 14-24 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 200, 24 mm, f/16, 1/4 sec). Image processed with Capture One Pro. Converted to B&W with NIK Silver Efex Pro 2 (David J Mathre)
Upper Antelope Canyon, Page Arizona. Image taken with a Nikon D3 camera and 14-24 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 200, 24 mm, f/16, 1/4 sec). Image processed with Capture One Pro. Converted to B&W with NIK Silver Efex Pro 2
Upper Antelope Canyon, Page Arizona. Image taken with a Nikon D3 camera and 14-24 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 200, 24 mm, f/16, 15 sec). Image processed with Capture One Pro. Converted to B&W with NIK Silver Efex Pro 2 (David J Mathre)
Upper Antelope Canyon, Page Arizona. Image taken with a Nikon D3 camera and 14-24 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 200, 24 mm, f/16, 15 sec). Image processed with Capture One Pro. Converted to B&W with NIK Silver Efex Pro 2
Upper Antelope Canyon, Page Arizona. Image taken with a Nikon D3 camera and 14-24 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 200, 24 mm, f/16, 30 sec). Image processed with Capture One Pro. Converted to B&W with NIK Silver Efex Pro 2 (David J Mathre)
Upper Antelope Canyon, Page Arizona. Image taken with a Nikon D3 camera and 14-24 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 200, 24 mm, f/16, 30 sec). Image processed with Capture One Pro. Converted to B&W with NIK Silver Efex Pro 2
Upper Antelope Canyon, Page Arizona. Image taken with a Nikon D3 camera and 14-24 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 200, 14 mm, f/16, 5 sec). Image processed with Capture One Pro. Converted to B&W with NIK Silver Efex Pro 2 (David J Mathre)
Upper Antelope Canyon, Page Arizona. Image taken with a Nikon D3 camera and 14-24 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 200, 14 mm, f/16, 5 sec). Image processed with Capture One Pro. Converted to B&W with NIK Silver Efex Pro 2
Upper Antelope Canyon, Page Arizona. Image taken with a Nikon D3 camera and 24-70 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 200, 48 mm, f/16, 6 sec). Image processed with Capture One Pro. Converted to B&W with NIK Silver Efex Pro 2 (David J Mathre)
Upper Antelope Canyon, Page Arizona. Image taken with a Nikon D3 camera and 24-70 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 200, 48 mm, f/16, 6 sec). Image processed with Capture One Pro. Converted to B&W with NIK Silver Efex Pro 2
Upper Antelope Canyon, Page Arizona. Image taken with a Nikon D3 camera and 24-70 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 200, 32 mm, f/16, 8 sec). Image processed with Capture One Pro. Converted to B&W with NIK Silver Efex Pro 2 (David J Mathre)
Upper Antelope Canyon, Page Arizona. Image taken with a Nikon D3 camera and 24-70 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 200, 32 mm, f/16, 8 sec). Image processed with Capture One Pro. Converted to B&W with NIK Silver Efex Pro 2
Upper Antelope Canyon, Page Arizona. Image taken with a Nikon D3 camera and 24-70 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 200, 29 mm, f/16, 2 sec). Image processed with Capture One Pro. Converted to B&W with NIK Silver Efex Pro 2 (David J Mathre)
Upper Antelope Canyon, Page Arizona. Image taken with a Nikon D3 camera and 24-70 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 200, 29 mm, f/16, 2 sec). Image processed with Capture One Pro. Converted to B&W with NIK Silver Efex Pro 2
Upper Antelope Canyon, Page Arizona. Image taken with a Nikon D3 camera and 24-70 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 200, 24 mm, f/16, 25 sec). Image processed with Capture One Pro. Converted to B&W with NIK Silver Efex Pro 2 (David J Mathre)
Upper Antelope Canyon, Page Arizona. Image taken with a Nikon D3 camera and 24-70 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 200, 24 mm, f/16, 25 sec). Image processed with Capture One Pro. Converted to B&W with NIK Silver Efex Pro 2
Upper Antelope Canyon, Page Arizona. Image taken with a Nikon D3 camera and 24-70 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 200, 24 mm, f/16, 10 sec). Image processed with Capture One Pro. Converted to B&W with NIK Silver Efex Pro 2 (David J Mathre)
Upper Antelope Canyon, Page Arizona. Image taken with a Nikon D3 camera and 24-70 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 200, 24 mm, f/16, 10 sec). Image processed with Capture One Pro. Converted to B&W with NIK Silver Efex Pro 2
Upper Antelope Canyon, Page Arizona. Image taken with a Nikon D3 camera and 24-70 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 200, 24 mm, f/11, 30 sec). Image processed with Capture One Pro. Converted to B&W with NIK Silver Efex Pro 2 (David J Mathre)
Upper Antelope Canyon, Page Arizona. Image taken with a Nikon D3 camera and 24-70 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 200, 24 mm, f/11, 30 sec). Image processed with Capture One Pro. Converted to B&W with NIK Silver Efex Pro 2
Upper Antelope Canyon, Page Arizona. Image taken with a Nikon D3 camera and 24-70 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 200, 24 mm, f/11, 6 sec). Image processed with Capture One Pro. Converted to B&W with NIK Silver Efex Pro 2 (David J Mathre)
Upper Antelope Canyon, Page Arizona. Image taken with a Nikon D3 camera and 24-70 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 200, 24 mm, f/11, 6 sec). Image processed with Capture One Pro. Converted to B&W with NIK Silver Efex Pro 2
Upper Antelope Canyon, Page Arizona. Image taken with a Nikon D3 camera and 24-70 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 200, 24 mm, f/16, 3 sec). Image processed with Capture One Pro. Converted to B&W with NIK Silver Efex Pro 2 (David J Mathre)
Upper Antelope Canyon, Page Arizona. Image taken with a Nikon D3 camera and 24-70 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 200, 24 mm, f/16, 3 sec). Image processed with Capture One Pro. Converted to B&W with NIK Silver Efex Pro 2
Upper Antelope Canyon, Page Arizona. Image taken with a Nikon D3 camera and 24-70 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 200, 40. mm, f/16, 2.5 sec). Image processed with Capture One Pro. Converted to B&W with NIK Silver Efex Pro 2 (David J Mathre)
Upper Antelope Canyon, Page Arizona. Image taken with a Nikon D3 camera and 24-70 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 200, 40. mm, f/16, 2.5 sec). Image processed with Capture One Pro. Converted to B&W with NIK Silver Efex Pro 2

Three-Years Ago (08-April-2008) — Arizona

Gone to See America 2008. Page Arizona Photography Workshop with Winston Hall. Day 1: Lower Antelope Canyon.

Comparison of HDR Express Default Processing Modes. I recently obtained HDR Express (from United Color) as a new HDR (High Dynamic Range) processing program. The following are examples of the default processing modes provided in HDR Express. The images were taken on this day in 2008 while on a Nikonians Academy Photography Workshop in Page Arizona with Winston Hall. Additional images from this day are in the 08-April-2008 Blog.

The first two images are the initial single image processed with Capture One Pro. The first “as is” — note the amount of the image over exposed (clipped) near the top and second “optimized” using the Capture One Pro tools to better balance the exposure. The following 13 images are composites of 5 over and under exposed images processed with HDR Express using the default processing modes: Optimum, Linear, Natural, Vivid, B&W, B&W Grunge, Dreamy, Vintage Color, Soft & Cold, Artistic, Blogger’s Delight, Artistic, Grunge, Retina Burn.

Lower Antelope Canyon, Page Arizona. Image taken with a Nikon D3 and 24 mm f/3.5 PC-E lens (ISO 200, 24 mm, f/5.6, 1/4 sec). (David J Mathre)
Lower Antelope Canyon, Page Arizona. Image taken with a Nikon D3 and 24 mm f/3.5 PC-E lens (ISO 200, 24 mm, f/5.6, 1/4 sec).
Lower Antelope Canyon, Page Arizona. Image taken with a Nikon D3 and 24 mm f/3.5 PC-E lens (ISO 200, 24 mm, f/5.6, 1/4 sec). (David J Mathre)
Lower Antelope Canyon, Page Arizona. Image taken with a Nikon D3 and 24 mm f/3.5 PC-E lens (ISO 200, 24 mm, f/5.6, 1/4 sec).
Lower Antelope Canyon, Page Arizona. Image taken with a Nikon D3 and 24 mm f/3.5 PC-E lens (ISO 200, 24 mm, f/5.6, 0.1-0.6 sec). HDR composite processed from 5 images using United Color HDR Express (Vivid Profile). (David J Mathre)
Lower Antelope Canyon, Page Arizona. Image taken with a Nikon D3 and 24 mm f/3.5 PC-E lens (ISO 200, 24 mm, f/5.6, 0.1-0.6 sec). HDR composite processed from 5 images using United Color HDR Express (Vivid Profile).
Lower Antelope Canyon, Page Arizona. Image taken with a Nikon D3 and 24 mm f/3.5 PC-E lens (ISO 200, 24 mm, f/5.6, 0.1-0.6 sec). HDR composite processed from 5 images using United Color HDR Express (Vintage Color profile). (David J Mathre)
Lower Antelope Canyon, Page Arizona. Image taken with a Nikon D3 and 24 mm f/3.5 PC-E lens (ISO 200, 24 mm, f/5.6, 0.1-0.6 sec). HDR composite processed from 5 images using United Color HDR Express (Vintage Color profile).
Lower Antelope Canyon, Page Arizona. Image taken with a Nikon D3 and 24 mm f/3.5 PC-E lens (ISO 200, 24 mm, f/5.6, 0.1-0.6 sec). HDR composite processed from 5 images using United Color HDR Express (Soft & Cold profile). (David J Mathre)
Lower Antelope Canyon, Page Arizona. Image taken with a Nikon D3 and 24 mm f/3.5 PC-E lens (ISO 200, 24 mm, f/5.6, 0.1-0.6 sec). HDR composite processed from 5 images using United Color HDR Express (Soft & Cold profile).
Lower Antelope Canyon, Page Arizona. Image taken with a Nikon D3 and 24 mm f/3.5 PC-E lens (ISO 200, 24 mm, f/5.6, 0.1-0.6 sec). HDR composite processed from 5 images using United Color HDR Express (Retina Burn profile) (David J Mathre)
Lower Antelope Canyon, Page Arizona. Image taken with a Nikon D3 and 24 mm f/3.5 PC-E lens (ISO 200, 24 mm, f/5.6, 0.1-0.6 sec). HDR composite processed from 5 images using United Color HDR Express (Retina Burn profile)
Lower Antelope Canyon, Page Arizona. Image taken with a Nikon D3 and 24 mm f/3.5 PC-E lens (ISO 200, 24 mm, f/5.6, 0.1-0.6 sec). HDR composite processed from 5 images using United Color HDR Express (Optimal Profile). (David J Mathre)
Lower Antelope Canyon, Page Arizona. Image taken with a Nikon D3 and 24 mm f/3.5 PC-E lens (ISO 200, 24 mm, f/5.6, 0.1-0.6 sec). HDR composite processed from 5 images using United Color HDR Express (Optimal Profile).
Lower Antelope Canyon, Page Arizona. Image taken with a Nikon D3 and 24 mm f/3.5 PC-E lens (ISO 200, 24 mm, f/5.6, 0.1-0.6 sec). HDR composite processed from 5 images using United Color HDR Express (Natural Profile). (David J Mathre)
Lower Antelope Canyon, Page Arizona. Image taken with a Nikon D3 and 24 mm f/3.5 PC-E lens (ISO 200, 24 mm, f/5.6, 0.1-0.6 sec). HDR composite processed from 5 images using United Color HDR Express (Natural Profile).
Lower Antelope Canyon, Page Arizona. Image taken with a Nikon D3 and 24 mm f/3.5 PC-E lens (ISO 200, 24 mm, f/5.6, 0.1-0.6 sec). HDR composite processed from 5 images using United Color HDR Express (Linear Profile). (David J Mathre)
Lower Antelope Canyon, Page Arizona. Image taken with a Nikon D3 and 24 mm f/3.5 PC-E lens (ISO 200, 24 mm, f/5.6, 0.1-0.6 sec). HDR composite processed from 5 images using United Color HDR Express (Linear Profile).
Lower Antelope Canyon, Page Arizona. Image taken with a Nikon D3 and 24 mm f/3.5 PC-E lens (ISO 200, 24 mm, f/5.6, 0.1-0.6 sec). HDR composite processed from 5 images using United Color HDR Express (Grunge Profile) (David J Mathre)
Lower Antelope Canyon, Page Arizona. Image taken with a Nikon D3 and 24 mm f/3.5 PC-E lens (ISO 200, 24 mm, f/5.6, 0.1-0.6 sec). HDR composite processed from 5 images using United Color HDR Express (Grunge Profile)
Lower Antelope Canyon, Page Arizona. Image taken with a Nikon D3 and 24 mm f/3.5 PC-E lens (ISO 200, 24 mm, f/5.6, 0.1-0.6 sec). HDR composite processed from 5 images using United Color HDR Express (Dreamy Profile). (David J Mathre)
Lower Antelope Canyon, Page Arizona. Image taken with a Nikon D3 and 24 mm f/3.5 PC-E lens (ISO 200, 24 mm, f/5.6, 0.1-0.6 sec). HDR composite processed from 5 images using United Color HDR Express (Dreamy Profile).
Lower Antelope Canyon, Page Arizona. Image taken with a Nikon D3 and 24 mm f/3.5 PC-E lens (ISO 200, 24 mm, f/5.6, 0.1-0.6 sec). HDR composite processed from 5 images using United Color HDR Express (Blogger's Delight profile). (David J Mathre)
Lower Antelope Canyon, Page Arizona. Image taken with a Nikon D3 and 24 mm f/3.5 PC-E lens (ISO 200, 24 mm, f/5.6, 0.1-0.6 sec). HDR composite processed from 5 images using United Color HDR Express (Blogger
Lower Antelope Canyon, Page Arizona. Image taken with a Nikon D3 and 24 mm f/3.5 PC-E lens (ISO 200, 24 mm, f/5.6, 0.1-0.6 sec). HDR composite processed from 5 images using United Color HDR Express (B&W profile). (David J Mathre)
Lower Antelope Canyon, Page Arizona. Image taken with a Nikon D3 and 24 mm f/3.5 PC-E lens (ISO 200, 24 mm, f/5.6, 0.1-0.6 sec). HDR composite processed from 5 images using United Color HDR Express (B&W profile).
Lower Antelope Canyon, Page Arizona. Image taken with a Nikon D3 and 24 mm f/3.5 PC-E lens (ISO 200, 24 mm, f/5.6, 0.1-0.6 sec). HDR composite processed from 5 images using United Color HDR Express (B&W Grunge profile). (David J Mathre)
Lower Antelope Canyon, Page Arizona. Image taken with a Nikon D3 and 24 mm f/3.5 PC-E lens (ISO 200, 24 mm, f/5.6, 0.1-0.6 sec). HDR composite processed from 5 images using United Color HDR Express (B&W Grunge profile).
Lower Antelope Canyon, Page Arizona. Image taken with a Nikon D3 and 24 mm f/3.5 PC-E lens (ISO 200, 24 mm, f/5.6, 0.1-0.6 sec). HDR composite processed from 5 images using United Color HDR Express (Artistic profile). (David J Mathre)
Lower Antelope Canyon, Page Arizona. Image taken with a Nikon D3 and 24 mm f/3.5 PC-E lens (ISO 200, 24 mm, f/5.6, 0.1-0.6 sec). HDR composite processed from 5 images using United Color HDR Express (Artistic profile).