mendittophoto

Family portraits-American Gothic

2012-01-01T22:12:00.001-05:00

Family portraits that are anything but typical.

Book mendittophoto to get yours.

seasons greetings 2011

2011-12-22T02:01:00.002-05:00

seasons greetings from us to you.

mendittophoto.com

iPhoneography - Images | mendittophoto

2011-04-02T14:22:00.000-04:00

iPhoneography - Images | mendittophoto

FONTHILL MUSEUM | mendittophoto

2011-01-10T14:06:00.002-05:00

FONTHILL - Images by Mark Menditto

happy holidays 2010

2010-12-17T00:44:00.002-05:00

our best wishes to everyone

mendittophoto.com

Branches movie BTS images on DVD

2010-11-21T02:13:00.002-05:00

The "Branches" movie world premier was yesterday, and the movie DVD is available with 74 Behind the Scenes (BTS) images by mendittophoto.com. Get your copy of the DVD at branchesmovie.com.

Boxing Film Noir

2010-10-09T23:25:00.005-04:00

Some motivation from NJFILMSCHOOL + serendipity + cool people at Eclipse Fitness = THIS.

new logos at mendittophoto.com

2010-08-26T02:24:00.007-04:00

Black text on white background, as they will appear on mendittophoto.com and my PhotoShelter e-commerce portal:

White text on black background, it will appear on the useplus.org Showcase:

fred and the refuge

2010-06-13T00:15:00.006-04:00

A friend and fellow photographer, Fred Weymouth has been working with the Animal Refuge League of Greater Portland. Fred was one of the photographers who supplied images for their annual benefit The Refuge: Art Auction and Cocktail Party.

I had the pleasure of spending a couple of days with Fred and his wife, attending the benefit. Fred's images looked great, which really set the tone for the evening of great food and nice people, all for a good cause. Congratulations to the ARLGP for a successful event, and to Fred for the fantastic photo work.

To learn more about the Animal Refuge League of Greater Portland, check out their webpage http://therefugeme.org

Here are my own photos from the evening.

the refuge - Images by Mark Menditto

Stuff I blogged about in 2009

2010-01-03T02:28:00.005-05:00

Let's see what 2010 brings.

© mark menditto

word cloud created with wordle.

SEASONS GREETINGS 2009

2009-12-23T19:12:00.004-05:00

peace to everyone.
mendittophoto.com

Happy Thanksgiving

2009-11-26T20:02:00.003-05:00

I am thankful this year for the chance to make new friends and share new work. My best wishes to everyone.
mark

The Bark: Bella's firsts

2009-11-04T11:28:00.009-05:00

"A rescued Greyhound's new life."

The Bark magazine published a two-page article about NJGAP's rescue named "Bella" in their November-December 2009 Issue 57. This issue hit the newsstands on November 3rd. It is a story of renewal.

Thank you to the Editor in Chief, Senior Editor and Publisher of The Bark for telling the story of this rescue and NJGAP's efforts!

The Bark is available from resellers at Where to Buy The Bark and by subscription.

The article comes at a critical time for the rescue agency because they are looking for volunteer foster families. Check out the NJGAP BLOG for current happenings.

Images are copyright mark menditto

Time for panos

2009-10-18T14:46:00.007-04:00

This 360-degree panoramic image is from the highest point on Roosevelt Island, its south end.

To license this image, click HERE to go to Photoshelter.

© mark menditto

Anatomy of a greyhound rescue photo portrait

2009-10-11T15:10:00.009-04:00

I approach the greyhound rescue portraits with an intent to communicate ideas that parallel and contrast their situation.

imbalance,
abbreviation,
depth,
apathy,
evocative,
compassion.

ASMP Best of 2009 Interview

2009-09-17T01:29:00.029-04:00

The American Society of Media Photographers (ASMP) selected this image from my personal project about the New Jersey Greyhound Adoption Program (NJGAP) for their ASMP Bulletin "Best of 2009" series (page 20).

This image is one of twenty photographers featured in the that issue. It is an honor to be in their company. Check out the amazing work by these photographers.

Final congratulations ultimately belong to the NJGAP volunteers, who since 1993 have rescued over two thousand greyhounds.

Here is ASMP's full Q&A with images from the greyhound rescue photo essay and some of my other work.

But most important, please consider fostering or adopting a retired greyhound, visit NJGAP.COM.

Field Notes Brand: [NJGAP] To the Rescue

2009-09-16T23:40:00.004-04:00

Page from Field Notes Brand Greyhound Rescue notebook
Originally uploaded by menditto

The nice folks at Field Notes Brand notebooks just blogged about the NJGAP project when I sent them a note about how I use their stuff to brainstorm and track my shots for the project. Thanks to them for the great press for the cause. Another congratulations to all the NJGAP volunteers because it is after all, a story about their life-saving efforts of those who have no voice.
You can check out the Field Notes Brand notebooks at fieldnotesbrand.com.

Greyhound Rescue - Lives worth saving

2009-08-29T22:35:00.008-04:00

This is a skittish white/fawn-colored male, named "Clown" that arrived into the care of the volunteers at the New Jersey Greyhound Adoption Program (NJGAP).

The volunteers at NJGAP really care about the lives they save, and I've seen it.

"Until there are none, adopt one." is the byline of NJGAP. Aptly stated.

© mark menditto

Photographing dystopia with fine photographers

2009-08-28T22:41:00.019-04:00

dystopia |disˈtōpēə| (noun) :
an imagined place or state in which everything is unpleasant or bad, typically a totalitarian or environmentally degraded one. The opposite of Utopia.
[Oxford American Dictionary]

I haven't heard that word in a while until fellow photographer Mike Leventhal brought it up in conversation, talking about shooting street photography in New York City.

An inspired afternoon thanks to the invitation of photographer TONY SWEET to Central Philadelphia's Eastern State Penitentiary and a great afternoon with very talented photographers JOHN BARCLAY, DOUG DINKLE, SARA HOWELL, BOB LOTT, MICHAEL J LEVANTHAL and DON ROSENBERGER, All of them are fine photographers, inspired artists and great people. Check out their images from the shoot.

After such a great day, it's wonderful to see their own unique viewpoints on the location. Lots of great ideas.

This was one of several visits to Eastern State Penitentiary. Returning to a venue is a challenge for me to find something new, and when I get to that place, I start to disassemble the scenes. Above is one of my favorite images from the day. It is a five-exposure High Dynamic Range (HDR) image, created with HDRSOFT Photomatix Pro.

Images © mark menditto

Historical - Images by Mark Menditto

VANCEJEFFREY

2009-08-07T02:12:00.009-04:00

Artist Vance Kupiec of independent music group VanceJeffrey dropped by to jam with some his latest tunes.

photo © mark menditto

VJ - Images by Mark Menditto

Getting better radio reception

2009-08-03T23:13:00.005-04:00

I had the pleasure of interviewing with WDVR-FM's Technology Today host, Rich Kazimir last week about the basics of digital photography. Rich is a great host, putting his guests at ease.

For those of you on the edges of the WDVR reception area, getting the radio signal can be a challenge.

To all of the neighbors on my block, my wife hasn't lost her mind, moving the car back and forth on our driveway for 20 minutes with one foot and one hand extended to enhance reception. I hear from a reliable source that it actually works. We don't suggest trying this while driving for real.

Only my wife would go these lengths to hear me yap about something. True love. Thanks, babe.

The photo above is our re-enactment of the event.

By the way, WDVR-FM is 91.9 FM in Princeton NJ, 89.7 in Hunterdon-Somerset County. They also stream their broadcast via Windows Media Player. Sorry there's no archive replay.

Copyright mark menditto

Greyhound Rescue - Barack

2009-06-04T02:11:00.006-04:00

Greyhound Rescue - Community

2009-06-02T00:27:00.004-04:00

A community is a group of individuals who share a common goal.

The NJGAP volunteers donate their time, their home and commitment to end greyhound racing and provide homes for the animals whose usefulness has ended. Twice a year, the group and adoptive families gather at a picnic, rain or shine. Stories of affection and accomplishment circulate among the participants.

Greyhound Rescue Community - Images by Mark Menditto

But the backdrop for these events is sobering.

At commercial racetracks across the country, thousands of dogs live in warehouse-style kennels, confined for long hours each day in cages barely large enough for them to stand up or turn around. Every year, thousands of dogs are seriously injured while racing, and thousands more are killed when they are no longer able to compete.

Looking at these innocent faces, it is difficult to imagine their lives before rescue groups like NJGAP.

For more information about greyhound racing, see The Humane Society, and the Greyhound Protection League.

Photographs Copyright mark menditto

Greyhound Rescue - Adoption

2009-04-20T10:59:00.004-04:00

Greyhound Rescue Adoption - Images by Mark Menditto

Set in the New Jersey Pine Barrens, a happy resolution to another racing greyhound rescue. Together, the retired racer "Bella" and her permanent family start a new day together. This is just one of over 2,000 successful placements by the New Jersey Greyhound Adoption Program (NJGAP).

Images Copyright mark menditto

A Day in the Pine Barrens

2009-04-20T00:31:00.004-04:00

I spent this morning in the New Jersey Pine Barrens visiting with an adoptive family for the rescued greyhound "Bella." This shot was a spontaneous photograph, while there.

© mark menditto

Holidays are a good time for pictures

2009-04-12T20:31:00.001-04:00

Holdays are a great time, and for portraits too.

Copyright mark menditto

Greyhound rescue image part of PhotoShelter's 20 Featured photographers

2009-04-07T20:32:00.013-04:00

The nice folks at PhotoShelter, my online archive provider are graciously featuring this image on their homepage for April-2009. It'll be on the "Images" tab on PhotoShelter's homepage, their product tour "Examples", and their blog.

It is an honor to see my work next to that of the other photographers. But most of all, because it was for the image from the NJ Greyhound Adoption Program (NJGAP) photo essay. And that's important because these volunteers give their time and dedication to creatures that got a bad break in life, until now. The photo essay is indirectly about the volunteers, but about the dogs first, always first.

I am gratified that for this month, PhotoShelter can be a forum for some exposure to NJGAP's efforts. All I really want is for the work to be transformed into one more adoption, one more life saved.

Thanks to the folks at PhotoShelter.

Here is the work of the other featured PhotoShelter photographers.

I'll never get used to Daylight Savings Time

2009-03-11T02:03:00.003-04:00

No matter the day of the year, I'll never get used to Daylight Savings Time. I'm so not used to it that this photograph isn't from the dawn, but rather dusk. I don't mind waking at dawn, just doing it an hour earlier than I have to.

Jefferson Notch Road, NH

2009-03-01T23:53:00.003-05:00

A short post with a black and white conversion of a image from Jefferson Notch Road with fellow photographer, Fred Weymouth. Fred was hiking off somewhere when I captured this shot. Good thing he returned, me being a city boy and all.

Black and White conversion done with nik software Silver EFEX Pro.

© mark menditto

Greyhound Rescue - Repetere B&W

2009-02-28T21:53:00.010-05:00

After spending a day with friend and mentor photographer Tony Sweet, I was inspired by his lecture for the NYC Sierra Club to give new life to new photographs. Like most photographers of my generation, many of us started our work in photography in the darkroom. Black and white processing was the place to be. Darkroom techniques afforded us the opportunity to interpret the image after capture.

Interpretation begins the moment we look at the scene with our naked eyes, our glasses (if you wear them), a lens, a filter, camera settings, an ISO value, the darkroom, computer software and print substrate. We owe no explanation, not even to another artist, of how or why we interpret a scene. The choice to manipulate an image, or not, is an artistic expression that is no different than a choice of a print substrate.

Alain Briot talks about this at length in his essays and "Mastering Landscape Photography," a wonderful book.

The images in this blog entry were captured digitally and converted to black and white with nik software's Silver EFEX Pro.

Greyhound Rescue - Repetere

2009-02-24T01:29:00.006-05:00

Another month. Another truckload of rescued greyhounds delivered by volunteers into the arms of more volunteers, determined to save every one. But, it's a matter of numbers. More animals go into the racing system than come out to a bona fide home. Greyhound racing is a business, not a pet store.

Here is a mini-gallery of the images from the day. The full gallery of images is available at mendittophoto titled "GREYHOUND RESCUE - REPETERE"

© mark menditto

Video: Greyhound Rescue - First Walk

2009-02-12T07:39:00.010-05:00

First Walk from mark menditto on Vimeo.

In this video, the New Jersey Greyhound Adoption Program (NJGAP) volunteer foster family tells me the story about of their first walk with rescued greyhound, Bella. I revisited the family a few weeks later, early one snowy morning to recreate and photograph the story. The morning light coupled with the snow made the whole shoot almost ethereal. We photographed the entire sequence in eight minutes.

As for the audio, the foster family provided a fantastic interview with no gaps or necessity for editing. The situation was more than I could hope for.

I consider myself very fortunate having been given the opportunity to bear witness to a happy event with such nice people, who I now consider my friends, Dave and Wendy. And my thanks go to Jen, the executive director of NJGAP and entire family of volunteers. I am grateful for the opportunity to tell their story, which in the end "is about the dogs."

Since 1993, New Jersey Greyhound Adoption Program (NJGAP.COM) has placed 2,000 rescued racing greyhounds into adoptive families. Volunteers donate their time to pick-up the dogs from rescue trailers, bath and groom, and provide a foster home until the dogs are placed into a permanent home. From the perspective of this agency, there is an endless supply of dogs. To see more images from this photo essay, go to mendittophoto.com

Copyright 2009 mark menditto.

The coolest guy around

2009-01-30T16:48:00.006-05:00

While reviewing some images shot last year, I came across probably my favorite image from that day. It's a photo of my uncle Santo, who's probably the coolest person I know. He's a man of few words, and always there to save the day.

PhotoShelter
© 2008 mark menditto.

BKA Wedding

2009-01-28T22:39:00.005-05:00

I'm just getting around to posting some personal work of images that I captured at my cousin's wedding last year. I was reminded of them when perusing Facebook for friends and relatives.

It was a pleasure to see my cousin posted a bunch of my images to her Facebook photo album and started tagging our relatives with Facebook accounts. I remember what a great time everyone had at the party. It was doubly gratifying to see how a personal-use license for the images was used in a way that everyone could enjoy. To my cousin, J... thanks for posting.

A few of the images are also model-released and available for rights-managed and royalty-free licensing. Click HERE to go to the PhotoShelter gallery of those images. Pick the image and click ADD TO CART license, where available.

Enjoy.

Greyhound Rescue - Fostering

2009-01-24T01:59:00.012-05:00

Here's a gallery of choice images from the foster family photo sessions.

In these images, you can see the satisfaction of the foster family and sense of security these poor animals learn in just a few short weeks. The work of these fantastic people goes a long way to ready these greyhounds for family life.

Over the few days that I spent with this foster family, I understand why the New Jersey Greyhound Adoption Program (NJGAP) has been so successful in finding permanent homes for 2,000 rescues over 16 years. The work and love these families dedicate to the dogs reinforces something that Jen Sigler, the founder of NJGAP told me at our first audio interview: they do what's best for the dogs.

That was true over ten years ago, when another family fostered my two greyhound rescues. And, it's true today. The foster families love these dogs long before the adoptive families. These animals could not have gotten a better start in undoing their traumatic past.

"Until there are none, adopt one." NJGAP.COM

Greyhound Rescue - Fast Friends

2009-01-19T21:58:00.009-05:00

Trust and kindness can turn even the most timid animal into a fast friend.

This photograph is from a personal project about the work of the New Jersey Greyhound Adoption Program (NJGAP).

For the photographers reading this, the hooks behind this image are based on how the viewer's eye perceives an image: recognizable patterns (checkerboard coat), high to low contrast (bright snow and Dave's dark jacket), in focus to blur (at f/1.8, see the difference in focus between the closest and furthest leg), high to low sharpness (different than focus-blur), and color saturation. Sharpness in this context refers to edge contrast which is very different than the focus-blur.

Incidentally, if you would like to learn more about these ideas, take a look at Vincent Versace's "Welcome to Oz: A Cinematic Approach to Digital Still Photography." I have the CS3 edition of the book and know there's an upcoming second edition (Amazon).

I first got the idea for this shot from the story that the foster family told me about "Ella's" first walk. In planning the shot, I knew I wanted a shallow depth of field to give the image a sense of depth. The other attributes of the checkerboard coat, snowfall and Dave's dark jacket are all serendipity. But, all together I think they're the recipe of why I like the image.

Greyhounds - once someone rescues them

2009-01-19T00:41:00.006-05:00

Once someone rescues them, retired greyhounds have a number of first experiences: what it is to have a name, to play, a home, and to finally have someone that loves them.

So, until there are none, adopt one. NJGAP.COM

HDR Photography Made Easy DVD - Available NOW!

2009-01-10T20:58:00.007-05:00

Photographer Tony Sweet's and producer Gregory McKean's instructional DVD titled "HDR Photography Made Easy" has hit the streets and is available from Amazon.

HDR let's you deal with lighting that's very dark to very bright and combine them into a single image. That image can be made to look like how our eyes perceive the scene. This DVD cuts through all those details to show you exactly how, from image capture to digital post-processing.

Three days in early September-2008, I had the privilege of getting candid location shots of this fantastic crew of professionals during filming.

I received my copy of the DVD yesterday, and I must admit it was pretty cool to watch those images and my name roll across the credits.

Check out the DVD. It's very slick.

Check out these samples from the DVD at YouTube: Tower window and Chaplain's Office.

This same production crew also produced another instructional DVD titled "Tony Sweet's Visual Literacy: Photography Workshop," also available from Amazon. You can check a sample at YouTube HERE.

Preview: Greyhound Rescue - Foster

2009-01-06T21:23:00.013-05:00

About three weeks after the adoption intake, I visited with the foster family for the rescued greyhound named "Ella."

The animals typically stay with a foster family four to five weeks, before hopefully finding a permanent home.

While spending a few weeks with Wendy and Dave, Ella got a new temporary name, "Bella" and a new set of experiences. She's learned how to climb a set of stairs, walk on leash, and what it means to live with a family that loves her. And I can say with certainty that this foster family really loves her as though she were their own.

Stay tuned for a "digital story" of audio and images.

The full essay of images will be available to view from the RECENT WORK link at mendittophoto.com.

To find out more about the NJGAP program, click HERE.

Video: Greyhound Rescue - Intake

2009-01-02T18:59:00.020-05:00

Since 1993, New Jersey Greyhound Adoption Program (NJGAP) has placed 2,000 rescued racing greyhounds into adoptive families.

Volunteers donate their time to pick-up the dogs from rescue trailers, bath and groom, and provide a foster home until the dogs are placed into a permanent home.

From the perspective of this agency, there is an endless supply of dogs.

The full essay of images is at mendittophoto.com.

Additional chapters in this series of stories will follow.

The plight of these animals is tragic with tens of thousands discarded and killed each year at the end of their racing career. The numbers are astounding. The kindness of these volunteers is just as amazing. Consider saving the life of this face.

To find out more about the NJGAP program, click HERE.
To learn more about the situation of these animals, see the Humane Society of the US.

NJGAP greyhound adoption intake from mark menditto on Vimeo.

Last reported location of Santa, Dunellen NJ

2008-12-24T15:02:00.003-05:00

He's on his way.

Greyhound Rescue - Intake

2008-12-16T21:57:00.014-05:00

This weekend presented a wonderful opportunity to research the efforts of a great "family" of volunteers at the New Jersey Greyhound Adoption Program (NJGAP).

My wife and I came to learn of this organization nine years ago, when we adopted a pair of greyhounds. The experience as an adoptive family is very rewarding in knowing that we saved these animals from a very final fate.

In the sixteen years of work, NJGAP found homes for 2,000 greyhounds whose usefulness at the racetrack ended.

We recently lost one of ours to a stroke, and I got to thinking whether there was something I could do to raise awareness about their situation. This past Saturday, a group of four animals made the long trip from Florida up to New Jersey. Once delivered into the arms of volunteer foster families, they were bathed and groomed, and probably for the first time, loved.

Here's a preview.

The founder and head of NJGAP, Jennifer Sigler signs her emails "Until there are none, adopt one."

The photograph below is of "Ella."

See subsequent blog posts for the digital story on YouTube.

The Ellis Island HDR Project, Part 2

2008-12-06T22:31:00.013-05:00

In the blog post, labeled PART 1, we talked about how to photograph a scene for HDR.

Now, you'll be processing those RAW images with software. There are a few software packages, capable of processing HDR images, like Photoshop and Photomatix Pro. I like HDRsoft Photomatix Pro, and so that's the one we'll talk about. Photomatix Pro is a standalone application, pretty easy to use and its Tone Mapping feature produces great results.

To fast track learning how to use Photomatix Pro and Photoshop for HDR, I bought Ben Wilmore's DVD High Dynamic Range (HDR) Mastery.

My friend Tony Sweet is also about to release his DVD about shooting for HDR from capture to final file. I was one of the people behind the scenes on the filming of the DVD to get candid still images. So obviously, I'm partial to Tony's DVD "HDR (High Dynamic Range) Photography Made Easy."

Check out these samples from the DVD at YouTube: Tower window and Chaplain's Office.

Next, you will need several exposures to merge to HDR, where each image is one f-stop brighter and darker than your "average" exposure.

By "average" I mean that it's the one you exposed for the midtones in the image. If you shot at Aperture-priority as described in Part 1 of my blog post, then the Exposure Value (EV) compensation read EV 0.0.

You'll need at least one exposure that's an f-stop darker than the midtone exposure. This darker exposure would have been shot at EV-1.0. If you needed to shot yet another at 2 f-stops darker (that is EV-2.0) to expose the brightest parts of the image without those bright parts from clipping off the right-side of the histogram, that's fine.

Now you'll need one or more exposures that are one f-stop brighter (EV+1.0) than the midtone exposure to brighten up the darkest parts of the image and keep them from clipping off the left-side on the histogram. Likewise, additional exposures at EV+2.0, EV+3.0, etc. (up to EV+5.0 on Nikon DSLRs) can be merged into your HDR image.

Take these raw exposures EV 0.0, EV-1.0, EV+1.0, etc. and drag them onto the Photomatix Pro icon. Photomatix will open a dialog to 'Generate an HDR image' to which you click OK.

Having a series of images that are exactly one f-stop apart will keep Photomatix Pro from prompting you about mapping each raw file to an exposure compensation value.

On the Generate HDR Options dialog, click the checkbox to 'Align source images-By matching horizontal and vertical shifts.' Click White Balance: Auto and click OK. Wait for Photomatix Pro to align and create the HDR image.

Photomatix will open the merged 'radiance' file. It won't look anything like the end product, and that's fine. From the FILE menu, choose SAVE HDR AS... and save it to your desktop or a folder.

From the WORKFLOW SHORTCUTS toolbar, click TONE MAPPING.

On the DETAILS ENHANCER tab, this is where it gets interesting and where Ben's or Tony Sweet's DVD will come in handy.

Here are my notes of how I typically process images in Photomatix Pro:

Adjust black and white points. Then, use the Luminosity slider to control brightness in shadow areas. Use Light Smoothing to control halos generated by adjusting Luminosity.

Adjust (color) Saturation, then Strength to control contrast. The lower settings render a more photographic image.

Use Gamma to control overall brightness.

From the Color tab, adjust the temperature and saturation highlights and shadows. Their effects are throttled by the intensity of the Color Saturation slider.

From the Micro tab, use the Micro Contrast to adjust it in the small details. Use Micro Smoothing to control to smooth out the details (e.g., halos).

Use the S/H to control smoothing in just the Highlights and Shadows, and clipping.

Set Output depth and save it out as TIFF.

For a more illustrative (e.g., grunge) look, use the Details Enhancer and set the Strength and Saturation, and Luminosity to 100. Play with the settings here until you get a look that you like.

Set output depth, click Apply and Save as TIFF.

The Ellis Island HDR Project, Part 1

2008-12-04T20:54:00.001-05:00

The Ellis Island Immigration Museum opened on the island's north side in 1990. However, some thirty buildings on the south side remain un-restored.

At the beginning of the year, photographer Tony Sweet approached me with the idea to visit the South Side of Ellis Island. I was intrigued with the idea. The astonishing part was to photograph it completely in High Dynamic Range (HDR) and with no commercial lighting or flashes.

Let's talk a little bit about the process to photograph a situation for HDR. Photographing for HDR is pretty simple once you've seen it done.

Pick a scene and don't worry about if some parts of the scene are very dark and very bright. That's ideal for HDR.

Set your camera for Aperture priority and matrix metering. Capture the images in RAW, not JPEG. Place the camera on a tripod with a cable release to eliminate camera shake.

Expose the image for the midtones; in other words an average exposure.

Next, set the exposure compensation to deliberately overexpose the image by one-stop (i.e., EV+1.0). The idea is to make the image brighter so the darkest areas are properly exposed. Check the histogram and look at the left side. If the graph shows there are any spikes (even small ones) at the left side, then that means the darkest areas are so dark, they're being "clipped." If there's still clipping, then overexpose the image by another stop (i.e., EV+2.0) and again check the histogram. Repeat this at one stop intervals until there's no clipping of the darkest parts in the image.

Now, reverse this and underexpose the image by one-stop (i.e., EV-1.0) so that the brightest areas are made darker. Check the right side of the histogram and look for clipping of the brightest parts on the image. If there's any clipping after underexposing the image by one-stop, then underexpose it again by 2-stops (i.e., EV-2.0).

By now you've got one average exposure for the midtones (i.e., EV 0.0), and a few underexposed and overexposed images. They all align perfectly because you're on a tripod.

And, since you're shooting on Aperture priority, the aperture is fixed and changing the exposure, for example EV+1.0 and EV-1.0 will vary the exposure by changing the shutter speed. This is important because changing the aperture to vary the exposure would change the depth-of-field.

The next phase is to process them digitally in some HDR software. The one I use is HDRSoft Photomatix Pro. More about that in the next blog entry.

HDR (High Dynamic Range) Photography Made Easy

2008-12-03T23:32:00.021-05:00

We're just a bunch of days away from the release of photographer Tony Sweet's and producer Gregory McKean's instructional DVD titled "HDR (High Dynamic Range) Photography Made Easy."

HDR is a very cool way to photograph a scene with vastly different exposures. It let's you deal with lighting that's very dark to very bright and combine them into a single image. That image can be made to look like how our eyes perceive the scene.

The technique sounds complicated and there's a ton of information on the Internet about how to "process" it. This DVD cuts through all those details to show you exactly how from image capture to digital post-processing.

I had the privilege of getting candid location shots for the 3-day event. The mood on the set was very relaxed and professional.

Check out these samples from the DVD at YouTube: Tower window and Chaplain's Office.

This same production crew also produced another instructional DVD titled "Tony Sweet's Visual Literacy: Photography Workshop," also available from Amazon. You can check a sample at YouTube HERE.

Pittstown, New Jersey Farm

2008-12-03T17:20:00.007-05:00

I have these images from a few years ago at a friend's farm in Pittstown, New Jersey. Great people, a working farm and a fabulous location.

This first shot of the snow-covered path to the farmhouse started with a typical exposure for snow.

In post processing, I converted the image in Photoshop CS3 from 16-bit to 8-bit and applied the Diffuse Glow filter, then Fred Miranda's Velvia Vision add-in. Finally, I used the nik Software Color Efex Pro 3.0 Complete Edition Sunshine filter to remove the blue color cast.

Also posted is a shot from the nearby town of Clinton, the location of the famous Clinton Mill.

Take a bow

2008-11-20T19:07:00.015-05:00

Sometimes the gesture of a photograph is created by something other than your intended subject.

I was shooting some environmental portraits at a local stable, Sunnyfields Farm. At one point, the horse stopped and knelt down to scratch his face. As he stood back up and in that moment, I caught this.

Photographer Jay Maisel says the key components of a photograph are light, gesture and color. I thought my portrait subject would provide the gesture for the photograph.

The point for this lead image is the best shots can be serendipitous. It's a matter of being there to catch the moment. Watch for it and be ready because they're the best surprise.

Sibling Rivalry

2008-11-09T21:27:00.008-05:00

Posing for a family portrait is exactly like this.

Younger and older brothers. Oil and water on appearance.
In real life, inseparable.

It begins

2008-11-05T00:22:00.005-05:00

And so, a new chapter on American history begins. Today, Barack Obama was elected as the 44th President of the United States.

It's Grand Central Terminal, not Station

2008-11-01T15:17:00.005-04:00

By the way, it's Grand Central Terminal, not Station.

Grand Central Station is the subway stop; trains arrive, stop, and continue on their way. At the Terminal, trains arrive, stop, but can go no further; they must go back out from whence it came, thus terminal.

Thanks to Ms. McCarthy, at Grand Central Terminal for clarifying this for me.

Grand Central Terminal, Part 2, Design Choices

2008-11-01T14:39:00.017-04:00

In the prior blog entry, I talked about the scouting the location and getting a permit to photograph Grand Central Terminal. Also, you'll need to stay off the stairways, egresses and balconies where people are walking. But, the main concourse is wide open.

Let's talk about image design choices for crowded venues like this one.

If you can get to a high spot clear of foot traffic, then you can photograph with a prime (e.g., 50mm) or wide angle (e.g., 12-24mm) lens to catch the architecture or masses of people. Or you can dissect the scene with a telephoto lens.

People are everywhere. So consider making that an element of your shot.

Whether you're shoot blades of grass in nature, reeds in the water, rocks on the beach, or people on the concourse, the same ideas apply. Look for patterns. Try to avoid merges between objects, such as people bunching up.

I like the shot above over most others because of how there's a separation between the folks. Also in the moment of this shot, all the folks in the foreground are in-step. That's the pattern I was going for.

You can also separate the subject with the selective focus of a shallow depth-of-field, and using the motion from a slow shutter speed to let moving objects blur, while the stationary objects are sharp.

In order to get all these elements for your shot, you'll need a tripod or monopod.

For the first image, the camera was on a tripod and I triggered the shutter with a cable release. The cable release solves the issue of my hand shaking the camera when I trigger the shutter. You can also use the self-timer. But, a self timer won't let you control the exact moment of releasing the shutter.

This particular shot is a straight exposure, with no strobe or commercial lighting.

In this next shot, I'm completely hand-held and deliberately giving the camera a quick shake while releasing the shutter. I'm going after the same idea of keeping the people from merging in the foreground. If you can't catch the moment in one shot, then shoot a series on rapid fire and keep the shot that catches it.

Comments are welcome.

Photographing at Grand Central Terminal, Part 1

2008-10-31T23:41:00.024-04:00

New York City's Grand Central Terminal is a fantastic venue to photograph, all year. The architecture, the lighting and the people are a great combination.

If you've got a point-and-shoot or SLR without a tripod, then it's a no-brainer.

However, if you need to photograph in Grand Central Terminal on tripod, as with most High Dynamic Range (HDR) shots, then you will need a permit.

My recommendations are that if you're in Grand Central Terminal, find the Stationmaster's Office and inquire about the procedures to request a permit.

Scout the location and figure out what specific locations you want to photograph. You'll need to specify that in the paperwork.

Better yet, if you plan ahead, then there's one place to get the right answer about still photography permit requirements. Check out the Still Photography Permit page at NYC Mayors Office of Film, Theatre and Broadcasting. Read the requirements and if you have any questions, call the office. Most permits are free. The folks there are really very helpful and are best suited to give you the right advice. They know exactly who to call for most public locations.

Just be prepared that you may need to get permits for different venues, in advance. For example, for permits to photograph in city parks, you need to get the permit from them, first. It's easier than it sounds. But, it does mean that you need to allocate enough lead time to get all the paperwork complete.

Once you have your permit, follow the guidelines carefully. For safety reasons, you'll need to stay off the stairways, egresses and balconies where people are walking. But, the main concourse is wide open.

Be polite in all situations. After all, they're just pictures and there's always another great shot around the corner.

Take really good pictures of your friends

2008-10-29T12:30:00.011-04:00

This shot of my friend, George was taken indoors at about noon. The room was very brightly lit with no commercial lighting or strobes.

The shallow depth-of-field is a function of shooting with an 85mm f/1.4 at aperture f/1.8. When photographing this close at a shallow depth of field, critical focus on the leading eye is what you're after.

An all-out smile isn't necessary. Just talk to your subject, put them at ease. During this family portrait, I told him he didn't have to smile. I wanted to the performance aspect out of it and just get him show me the person I've know a very long time.

When you see that moment, release the shutter.

To pull back some of the harsh lighting and high contrast, I used a black 32x40 V-flat behind him and to camera-right (his-left).

V-flats are cheap and easy to make, and transport.

For more information about making your own V-flat, see the PhotoShelter School of Stock BLOG article LIGHTING LIFESTYLE STOCK PHOTOS! WITH THE JOEL.

Here is a simple diagram of the set-up.

Don't fall in the river before visiting Mt Washington at 4,000 feet

2008-10-28T23:47:00.009-04:00

On the odd chance you fall into the river while visiting Twin Mountain-New Hampshire, make sure you've got a dry set of clothes before visiting Mt Washington at 4,000 feet, 25-degrees F and 60 mph winds.

It takes some of the fun out of it, as you can tell from my buddy Fred's really awesome photograph of me being really serious.

Of course even if you do get wet, then shake it off. The location is amazing.

I got a couple of HDR shots of the clouds at the same altitude as us (!) and the dark mountainside behind.

3.5 million people can't move out of your shot of Times Square

2008-10-28T22:59:00.010-04:00

When photographing Times Square, there are a few unspoken rules of etiquette.

There aren't many places to stand in the crowd to get a clear shot of well, anything. If you're standing on the Broadway center median, taxis rush by a a pretty good clip. People are everywhere.

3.5 million people are not going to move out of your way.

So if someone asks you to move out of their photograph for a clear view, then they're not a native New Yorker. Just stare at them, puzzled ... or move. Someone else will get in their shot.

Actually, most people are pretty friendly, even in NYC. Sometimes, they'll ask you to take the picture for them.

Most times, I try make people part of the photograph. They can be elements of your city landscape.

The photograph above shows photographers Susan Milestone and just behind Sue, Tony Sweet, demonstrating how it's done right.

Check out Tony's images from the location at his BLOG.

Is that the train coming?!

2008-10-28T22:36:00.002-04:00

Get the shot. But, paramount to all considerations, it's important to stay safe.

A friend and fellow photographer, Fred W and I were working our way along the tourist railroad track up at Mount Willard, across from the Silver Cascade Falls in Twin Mountain, New Hampshire. Well we got the shot and were headed back along the track, all perfectly quiet. It's the last few hundred yards of the track, alongside the highway. Then, we hear the rumble. I look up and I see the reflection of a huge headlight along the mountainside. Fred's about 50 feet ahead of me.

I yell "Fred! The train's coming! Run, dude!"

I bolt only about 10 feet and Fred yells "It's just a truck headlight, man!"

A very funny moment.

Here's a bunch more images from a very productive trip.