Mark's Photo Workshops

Recent Software Updates (Updated Jan 26, 2012…)

2011-04-06T10:24:00.001-04:00

You may be interested to know of the following updates:

Faststone Image Viewer: Version 4.6

Microsoft Image Composite Editor: Version 1.4.4

SNS-HDR-Lite: Version 1.4.11 *New*

Picture Window Pro: Version 6

Picasa: Version 3.9.0

Nikon Capture NX2: Version 2.3.0

Most other software packages have auto updaters, but you have to manually download and install these…

40 Gigapixel image

2011-04-01T12:33:00.001-04:00

Take a look at this amazing 360-degree panorama of the interior of a library. 3,000 individual images were taken and then assembled into this 40 Gigapxel final image.

Field Testers Wanted

2011-03-22T11:18:00.001-04:00

This has got to be seen to be believed.

Learn photography just like the astronauts

2011-03-21T13:49:00.001-04:00

Hasselblad has made a photography manual originally designed for NASA in 1984, available for everyone. Good, solid, basic photographic instructions, especially useful to anyone shooting digital images, if you substitute the references to “slides” with “digital sensors”.

Change focus after taking the image

2011-03-18T11:56:00.001-04:00

Take a look at "the first plenoptic camera on the market". From Raytrix, these cameras (plus their fancy software) can allow you to change what’s in focus in your image, and also create 3D images from one single photograph.

Pretty nifty stuff. Prices for cameras are “on request”…

A Copyright Story

2011-03-10T14:21:00.001-05:00

If you are concerned about posting your photos on Flickr or Facebook, or elsewhere on the ‘net, then you should probably watch this movie:

http://vimeo.com/20718237

The portraits of JR

2011-03-03T15:16:00.001-05:00

Wow, I’m speechless… this is a fantastic project:

And now you too can become part of it:

http://www.thestar.com/news/world/article/948210--this-artist-wants-you-to-cover-toronto-with-your-face?bn=1

Andrew Zuckerman

2011-02-19T12:02:00.001-05:00

If you haven’t seen any of this work, I heartily recommend taking the time to find the books and videos…

http://vimeo.com/19755808

How to tell a story with pictures

2011-02-18T09:21:00.001-05:00

This is very creative and very fun:

Thrush from Gabriel Bisset-Smith on Vimeo.

When did this happen?

2011-02-17T17:14:00.001-05:00

Apparently, there’s a group of 8 people who are going to attempt to drive from Russia to Canada, via the North Pole. That doesn’t sound too crazy, but in the story I read, they:

“will then gas up and take on supplies at an ice camp used by tourists before heading south to Resolute, Nunavut.”

??? What’s that? “an ice camp used by tourists”???

Since when have “tourists” been travelling to and staying at the North Pole?

If they were planning to gas up at a scientific research station near the North Pole, I wouldn’t have noticed, but “tourists”? Really?

http://www.wheels.ca/News%20and%20Features/article/793886

Talk about “Seeing” photographs…

2011-02-15T14:24:00.001-05:00

Take a look at this video, and tell me how tough it is for you to “see” photographs…

http://fstoppers.com/how-is-this-possible-a-blind-photographer/

Just so many very cool ideas out there…

2011-01-26T08:49:00.001-05:00

This is just too cool – Samsung has released a bunch of paper airplanes, very high up in the atmosphere, with memory cards on them. They could land anywhere, so watch out:

http://projectspaceplanes.com/

This is keeping with the “awesome” project, now available in Toronto:

http://awesometo.wordpress.com/

So many fun and wonderful ideas floating around these days…

Software: Updates

2011-01-16T08:35:00.001-05:00

Just so you know, two of my favourite PC software packages have been updated:

Faststone Image Viewer is now updated to version 4.3 and includes a cloning/healing brush, as well as more advanced levels and curves adjustments, among other improvements.

Fotosketcher, that fun “turn-your-photos-into-drawings-and-paintings” programme, is now updated to version 2.0.

Have fun experimenting, and drop in to the editing classes to find out more.

Art Show Feb 1–28, 2011

2011-01-08T10:55:00.001-05:00

If you have time to drop in to the Mimico Centennial library branch in February, you can take a look at my exhibition of photos called “Forest”.

For more information please visit the TPL web site.

It’s not just me…

2010-11-11T22:18:00.001-05:00

… here’s some interesting thoughts about a certain editing program, that I am not fond of either (for various other reasons…)

Now there’s a Meetup Group…

2010-11-08T14:03:00.001-05:00

Announcing…

Click here to check out
The Mark's Photo Workshops - Toronto!

Drop in and say “Hi”. Meet with people you know, and get to know some new people.

The pain of editing pictures…

2010-08-01T12:34:00.001-04:00

So, after a marathon editing session (lasting well over three days…) a few weeks back, I developed a pain in my elbow, which has been diagnosed as “lateral epicondylitis” (…”tennis elbow”…).

Now, I cannot use a mouse for more than a minute, or so, before I have to stop.

I have begun treatment, and hope to return to “normal” in a few weeks, maybe.

I heartily advise you to take breaks whilst editing (or gardening, or playing tennis, or anything else that involves strenuous repetitive grasping functions of the hand…), ‘cause this is not a pleasant state to be in.

Who knew photography could be so dangerous?

“Bicycle Violations and Fines”

2010-07-19T08:44:00.001-04:00

Just so you know, there are three pages of possible things you can do that could be interpreted as being in violation of the Ontario Highway Traffic Act, and subject to fines.

For your information, here’s a link to the pdf:

http://www.toronto.ca/cycling/pdf/hta.pdf

Happy Cycing!

A Few Updates

2010-05-03T14:26:00.001-04:00

Fastone Image Viewer is now version 4.2: http://www.faststone.org/FSViewerDetail.htm

Paint.NET is now version 3.55 (Win 7 only):http://blog.getpaint.net/2010/04/25/paint-net-v3-5-5-is-now-available/

Fotosketcher is still version 1.96: http://www.fotosketcher.com/download.htm

Microsoft ICE (Image Composite Editor) is version 1.3.3: http://research.microsoft.com/en-us/um/redmond/groups/ivm/ice/

GIMP for Window is version 2.6.8: http://gimp-win.sourceforge.net/stable.html

Photosynth project

2010-04-19T15:42:00.001-04:00

Just for fun, the Saturday TDSB “Advanced Workshop” participants will be attempting to create an interactive “synth” view of Bellevue Park (in Kensington Market, Toronto).

I’ve started the project, and you can view the results here.

Unfortunately, my early attempt is only “31% synthy”, so we’ll have to keep working on it.

Check back often as the other images get added to the scene.

Vancouver Time-Lapse Movie

2010-01-29T23:47:00.001-05:00

Well, this is just a fantastic view of a city, and all shot with nikon cameras too!

Seasonal Best Wishes

2009-12-23T08:42:00.001-05:00

I’d very much like to wish all of my friends and their families: Happy Holidays!

Happy Bodhi Day
Happy Hanukkah
Happy Al Hijira
Merry Christmas
Happy Kwanzaa

Faststone Image Viewer – Version 4.0 is available

2009-11-19T10:56:00.001-05:00

Just a quick update – Version 4.0 of Faststone Image Viewer is now available for download from www.faststone.org (specifically, http://www.faststone.org/FSViewerDownload.htm…).

Many new updates and improvements, and a new look (icons and skins) as well. See http://www.faststone.org/FSViewerDetail.htm for more details.

Cheerio

Just a Reminder…

2009-10-23T23:32:00.001-04:00

Is it the place that’s so fantastic, or is it your photograph of the place that’s amazing?

I’ve often asked: Are you taking a picture of a pretty flower, or are you making a pretty picture of any flower?

Where you are right now could be the most fantastic place on earth. If you picture it that way.

[Update: examples]

At Valerie’s request, I took 15 minutes and walked out along my street, in the rain, to find examples of just how fantastic it looks around here. The idea is to “photograph what is right in front of you”, and make use of composition rules and assorted photograph techniques and equipment to make whatever you find into images of beauty.

(Editor’s note: Beauty is certainly in the eye of the beholder, but I tried my best in the wet conditions, without a tripod, to find scenes worthy of photographing – making “beautiful” pictures of my local environment, rather than resorting to driving to a “beautiful” park or place and taking a picture of something “beautiful”…)

Click on the images above to see slightly larger, if desired.

Thanks for the suggestion Valerie. I hope I’ve inspired you top step outside and see the beauty in your own back yard!

After Dark in the (TBG) Garden

2009-10-09T09:04:00.001-04:00

Well, the weather turned out beautifully – not to cold, and only the briefest bit of drizzle – for the “After Dark in the Garden” class at the Toronto Botanical Gardens last night.

We had fun playing in the dark with long exposures, flashlights, sparklers and tripods. The lesson is: get to know your camera buttons before you go outside at night.

Here’s a few of my results. If anyone from the class wants to share one or two I’d be happy to post them here too.

Some flowers and grasses, illuminated only by flashlight:

Then we moved on to the larger garden, and tried some landscapes with flashlights. Here’s the scene “as is”:

(and here’s the same scene with some editing magic:)

Then we sent out the volunteers to paint the bridge with lights:

Notes: these are shutter speeds of 10 to 30 seconds, on a tripod.

Nothing like a little down time

2009-09-22T14:32:00.001-04:00

I’m so lucky – we have a friend who has a cabin right on the shore of Lake Superior. Not only that, she let us stay there, again, for two weeks. And not only that, these turned out to be the best two weeks weather-wise all summer!

I’m VERY lucky!

You can check out some of the snapshots from our trip at picasaweb.google.com/truszphoto/LakeSuperior2009#

Now, back to work!

Taste of the Danforth

2009-08-08T14:11:00.001-04:00

It’s that time of year again, to go out and mingle with a million or so of your fellow Torontonians as they form a human carpet along Danforth Ave from Broadview to Jones.

But really, it’s not the crowds I go to see, it’s the food! (Unfortunately, I have to use both hands to hold and consume the food out on the street, so I haven’t yet perfected a way to photograph the many delectable treats available. But I’m willing to keep trying…)

(techie notes: Nikon D2x, Nikkor 28-105, ISO 1600 and 3200, processed with Nikon Capture NX2, framed with Fastone Image Viewer 3.9)

Botanical Portraits - Daytime

2009-07-20T13:06:00.001-04:00

More than just photographs of flowers, I believe that you may want to make botanical portraits – very detailed illustrations – of some of the more interesting plants in your garden.

Here is what you will need to get started:

tripod
white, black or “sky” Bristol board
diffuser
reflector

Sometimes, an illustration helps to explain things:

and here’s the resulting image:

Here is what it looks like without the background:

You will need to carefully meter the exposure for the plant, and you may want to use a hand-held light meter, or a reference card (18% gray or white…) to manually set the correct exposure. Your in-camera exposure meter will be fooled by the background, so take some test shots to determine the best exposure settings for the plant itself.

Here are a few more to show you what’s possible:

Have fun!

Spring blooms eternal

2009-06-11T23:48:00.001-04:00

I think it’s safe to say that the warm weather is here to stay (at least until the Fall…), and the gardens are bursting forth with colour and form.

It’s almost a given that every photographer will, at one time or another, turn their camera towards the bright hues of a flower. It’s seems an irresistible urge.

So to help you with your floral photography, here are some suggestions.

It’s All About The Light

As always, watch your exposure, especially the highlights, with flowers. With many floral compositions, the brightest parts make up a small proportion of the image, so highlights can easily get overexposed.

Also, watch the individual colour channels carefully, as close-ups of blooms that are bright yellow, orange or red can easily become oversaturated in the red channel.

Faststone Image Viewer Update

There’s a new update to Faststone Image Viewer: Version 3.9.

go to www.faststone.org to download it.

Online Faststone Tutorials

2009-05-28T20:40:00.001-04:00

Just noticed a link to some online tutorials to help you learn more about using Faststone Image Viewer.

Go to: http://www.imagingtips.com/faststone/ to start learning.

( the link is found at: http://www.faststone.org/FSViewerDownload.htm – click on the “tips” button)

Have fun!

Photographing Fireworks

2009-05-15T19:04:00.001-04:00

It’s that time of year again – the first Fireworks Display of the season. Victoria Day is a great time to take yourself out to photograph and enjoy the lights and sounds of fireworks.

Ashbridges Bay is the location for the City of Toronto’s big display, but there’s also Ontario Place and Canada’s Wonderland to keep in mind.

No matter where you go, here’s what you will need to capture all the excitement with your camera:

camera capable of long-ish shutter speeds (up to 8 or 10 seconds), either in Manual Mode or Fireworks Scene Mode.
tripod.
fully-charged batteries (in your camera and back-ups).
flashlight

Set up the camera on the tripod, and choose a focal length (zoom position) that will include all the sky where the lights will hang in the sky. You may need to wait for the first one or two displays to make sure you aren’t zoomed in or out too much.

For Manual settings, try starting with these settings:

ISO 100
F 11
Shutter speed set to “bulb”

You may need to vary these settings after the first couple of exposures, so be prepared to make changes quickly in the first few minutes. This is what the flashlight is for – finding the right buttons on your camera in the dark can be challenging!

If your camera does not have manual settings, look for the Fireworks Scene mode, and give it a try.

Wait until you hear the thump of the rocket launching into the sky, and then open the shutter. Most flares will last between 2 and 8 seconds, so if you’re shooting manually be prepared to hold the shutter open just long enough to capture the full effect of the flare, and then get ready for the next volley.

Sometimes you get lucky and there are multiple explosions within the same 10 seconds, so you’ll get extra colours in one shot.

If you have time, try taking the camera off the tripod and moving the camera up and down (or side to side, or in circles…) to create additional patterns with the lights.

Have fun!

Macro in the garden

2009-05-08T14:59:00.001-04:00

Tip No. 1:

Position the camera underneath the blooms, with the sun (or hand-held flash) behind, to illuminate through the petals and foliage.

A right-angled viewfinder works well in this situation, or if your LCD screen pivots and tilts, that helps as well.

The beauty of light

2008-01-28T13:39:00.001-05:00

There are many places on the web that a photographer can find tips and tricks for using artificial lighting to improve their photos, and there's nothing wrong with that. I thought it might be nice to remember how beautiful "found" light can be.

"Found" light can be natural (from the sun) and also artificial (from existing ambient light sources), it really doesn't matter. The important point, for me at least, is that you make the most of what lighting is available.

I will be posting some examples of found light photographs, with some explanation and illustration of any specific techniques I used to accomplish the result.

I hope you find some of this information helpful.