Desperate for Spring - Part 1

Yes, I am desperate for Spring 2008. I want to see sunshine, feel the warm breeze and watch nature's green carpets get rolled out after the white carpets are rolled away. In the meantime, here are some last, lingering winter pictures taken over the last few weeks


Here's the original in all its greyness.


Grey images are great for split toning. This one is called Silver Sand.


This one looks a little more cheerful. It's called Cool Bluetone.


Now for a little more dramatic look. This is a Sepia and Blue split tone.

The original image was shot on a Canon G9. Lightroom 1.3 was used to process the RAW image and then to add the split tones.

Copyright 2008 James D. Fisher
All rights reserved.

A Bratenahl Lamp

I'm still trying to get out of the winter doldrums. The best thing about winter images is that you can convert them to grayscale. Then you don't have to worry about bleak white/gray skies, lifeless color and low contrast.


On my way to downtown Cleveland, I hopped off the highway at Eddy Rd. and cruised along Lakeshore Blvd. I love the incredible mansions along the road built during a time of great prosperity in Northeast Ohio. I spotted this street lamp at the front of a long driveway. Using Adobe Lightroom I did the usually color treatment,--converted from RAW, white balanced using the eyedropper, cropped, added some vibrance and clarity, and finally, sharpened things up.

So now it's time to play!


First, I went for a more subdued version of the original at the top. Instead of rich color, this one goes for the faded. This is called cross processing which means doing a reverse of the normal way to adjust colors. Lightroom users have provided a number of "presets" you can use to experiement with cross processing or you can create your own presets.


This is a brownstone effect, not quite a sepia tone, but darker. It gives it the 1920's look it deserves.


Finally, I went for a faded color look. I wanted it to look like it was a print from the 1940's but starting to deteriorate. After reading the book, Nash Editions, I learned about how so many of the color images printed on Kodak paper in the 1940-50's faded out, especially the magenta color channel.

This image was captured on the Canon G9.

Copyright 2008 James D. Fisher
All rights reserved.

More Canon G9

The lobby at the new TCP Inc. headquarters in Aurora, OH. They make more compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFL) than anyone.


Here's an image showing the dynamic range of the Canon G9. Bright sunlight to the left, CFL's above. No noise at ISO 80. Decent depth-of-field at f2.8. Here's the specs:

ISO 80
1/60
f2.8
7.4mm (about 35mm)
RAW capture.

Copyright 2008 James D. Fisher
All rights reserved.

My favorite Photo Books of 2007

This year I've read more photo books than ever. Why? This is an incredible time for the amateur photographer. There is so much power being placed in our hands with incredible DSLRs and software that we need to keep abreast of the changes and advancements. Also, styles and tastes in photography are constantly evolving as well.

How did I judge the books? How about the number of post-it notes that are tagged in them? If there are none, well, it's going up on ebay soon. Two to four post-its means it's a pretty good read. Five or over it's a winner. All the books on my list are five-plusers! Just kidding of course.

Actually I was a little more selective than just the number of post-it notes. I bought probably 30 books in 2007 and here are my favorites. For starters are two books which help us understand much of the "how-to" using Adobe Photoshop Lightroom.

1. Adobe Photoshop Lightroom for Digital Photographers by Scott Kelby.

2. Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Book, The Complete Guide for Photographers by Martin Evening

The introduction of Adobe Photoshop LightRoom in February 2007 has opened up a flurry of new photo opportunities and challenges, be it workflows, processing, printing, etc. These new titles by two amazing Photoshop stalwarts, Scott Kelby and Martin Evening, helped us figure out all the new tools and processes in Adobe Lightroom. So let's make them our first two favorites for 2007.

3. Photoshop Lightroom Adventure by Mikkel Aaland

Another book came out a few months later by Mikkel Aaland called PhotoShop Lightroom Adventure. Aaland's book presented Lightroom in terms of a workflow and he used a photo safari to Iceland as a storyline throughout the book. From initial capture and importing into Lightroom to slideshows, printing and posting to the Web Aaland uses beautiful images that he and 11 other colleagues took on their adventure.

4. Camera RAW with Adobe PhotoShop CS3 by Bruce Fraser and Jeff Schewe.

My next one is sure to make most casual amateurs zone out. It's a book about RAW which is, for some, that not quite understood setting in the capture menu of your camera. Maybe you've heard that "real" photographers shoot in RAW format and that is true for the most part. RAW means you've captured the "sensor data" of the image and because of that you have far greater opportunities to enhance the image on your computer. Think of RAW as starting with the original white paint at the store before the color is added and JPEG as the paint already mixed. Which would you rather adjust?

For example, with RAW you can easily add or subtract two or three full f-stops to your exposure with little degradation to the image. Other powerful controls include adjustments to white balance, tone curve, color space, contrast and saturation. Sure, these tools are available on JPEGs, but a JPEG is an already processed image. With RAW you are adjusting the original sensor data before it's processed into a JPEG.

I sat through two sessions at PhotoshopWorld with the late Bruce Fraser and couldn't believe how smart this guy was. He took us places in the lands of RAW and image sharpening that were incredible. He will be sorely missed. This second edition book on RAW was completed by Bruce's colleague, Jeff Schewe, and includes some great material on workflow. The Camera RAW or ACR tools in CS3 is practically the same ones in Adobe Photoshop Lightroom so users of either software will find this book useful.

5. Nash Editions, Photography and the Art of Digital Printing, edited by Garrett White

Who would think a book about the history of digital printing (snooze) would actually be quite interesting? Let me tell you how. We'll start with the Nash name. It's the same guy, Graham Nash, who sang in Buffalo Springfield and Crosby, Stills, & Nash. He was also a dedicated photographer and captured many unique images during his music tours and performances. In 1990 he opened a photo print-making studio and was on the forefront of the new digital printing age. The book includes a forward by Nash and the bulk of it are essays about printmaking history, new advancements in digital printing, and technical topics like ink permanence. I didn't know that not a single Kodakcolor print from 1942 to 1953 has survived. They all either faded, or developed ugly orange or yellow stains. Hundreds of millions of color images from that era are lost forever. Makes you wonder how long those inkjet prints are going to last? Fortunately, Nash Editions has the answer.

The best part of Nash Editions are the intriguing photographs, from many eras, beautifully printed throughout the book. Some of my favorites are Norma Shearer and James Stewart in Boat, Eggs, Eclipse, and the photos of musicians (Dylan, Miles, Santana, Monk, Neil Young and others).

6. Canon DSLR, The Ultimate Photographer's Guide, by Christopher Grey

Normally, I'll buy one book about each camera I own because the manuals provided by the manufacturer are pretty horrible. The Magic Lantern Guides are usually the best ones to get. When I spotted Canon DSLR at the bookstore I thought this would be one of those very generic manufacturer love-song books. Instead this is written by an independent author and published by Focal Press, one of the best around. It is geared for the Beginner/Intermediate user but inside it has great depth of information on things like using Canon flash units, Canon Digital Photo Pro software and background information on all current DSLR models and lenses. Another nice touch are the numerous interviews with professionals who use Canon cameras. If you're into Canon gear this is a good companion to have.

7. Window Seat, The Art of Digital Photography & Creative Thinking, by Julieanne Kost

This one goes down as a "why the hell did I buy this book?" to "wow, I love this book". The book is by photographer and Adobe consultant Julieanne Kost, She travels around the country giving talks and seminars about Adobe Photoshop. During her flights she takes the time to shoot imagery from the window of the plane. We've all tried this when we get stuck in a window seat and usually with pathetic results. Julieanne has not only figured out the technical requirements to get great pictures from window seats but she has turned it into a creative exercise that challenges our rationale for taking pictures. Is photography all about going to some exotic location, shooting the hell out of it, and then blitzing your admirers with exciting new images? That's been my modus operandi. Instead Julieanne asks us to look where we are, at the things which are around us and are coming to us as unique creative acts and perhaps our greatest photo opportunities. It's all about being alert in a creative way.

8. The Portrait Book, A Guide for Photographers, by Steven Begleiter

It is difficult for me to do portraits or even "people shots". The problem is people never seem satisfied with images of themselves no how much other people love the image. You rarely get satisfaction and methinks sometimes that is all that we want as photographers. Taking images of scenic locations is much easier. Shoot a mountain, a sunset, a pretty leaf and everyone oohs and aahs. Best of all, the mountain, the sunset, the leaf never complains!

Begleiter's book has helped me break down the tension I have with people shots. He started his career as a photo assistant to two luminaries in photography, Annie Leibovitz and Mary Ellen Mark. Later Begleiter opened his own studio in New York City. Now he teaches at Rocky Mountain School of Photography in Missoula, Montana.

With Begleiter it's all about preparation. He goes through several chapters on the requisite gear needed for a successful shoot. Knowing your gear is important before you get to the site of a portrait assignment. With complete confidence of your mastery of the gear then portrait shooting becomes fun and enjoyable. The book includes interviews with top photographers and editors about what makes great portraits. My favorites are composer Phillip Glass, comedian David Brenner, and De La Soul musician Pos.

9. Lighting and the Dramatic Portrait, The Art of Celebrity and Editorial Photography by Michael Grecco

This is another great book about portraits by hot-shot photographer Michael Grecco. I don't mean "hot-shot" in a derogatory way at all. He is "hot" and may be one of the most desired portrait shooters in the market today. His book provides the "how-he-did-it" for many of his most famous shots. Some of my favorites are a haunting Kate Winslet, a Kabuki-faced Lawrence Fishburne, and an incorrigible Chris Farley. Grecco also provides his three laws of light for great portraits and many other tips.

10. Photo Icons, The Story Behind the Pictures (Vols. I & II), by Hans-Michael Koetzle

Koetzle presents hundreds of images from the very beginnings of photography in 1827 up to the latest 21st century as examples of iconic images of their era. Appropriately, the first images are of the very first photographs ever taken. Then he takes us through the first decade of photography and how it emerged into the Victorian society of the 1800's. As might be expected, the early camera was used to photographs nudes and that became one of the first business ventures using photography.

In the mid-1800's portrait studios opened up everywhere for family pictures. The camera also covered wars and brought on the rise of the photojournalist. Photography began to be used in advertising and publicity around 1900. The advent of color photography in the 1940's was one of the major technological advances n photography. Koetzle covers all these eras and more.

Some of my favorite images are Robert Howlett's image of shipbuilder Isambard Kingdom Brunel, Dorothea Lange's images of Migrant Workers in the 1930's, and Robert Capa coverage of the Spanish War. Best of all, the books only cost $10 a piece. Considering the wealth of imagery and quality commentary these books are a bargain.

That's my list. There are a couple of others that I'm working through over the holiday.

Subjective Realities, Works from the REFCO Collection of Contemporary Photography. This was given to me by a friend and is a fascinating collection of recent photography. It makes you wonder where things are headed.

Take Your Photography to the Next Level From Inspiration to Image by George Barr.

The Creative Digital Darkroom By Katrin Eismann and Sean Duggan.

I'll do a write-up after I get through them.

Enjoy!

Copyright 2007 James D. Fisher
All rights reserved.

Some Black 'n' Whites from a Gray Day

The sky turn neutral gray yesterday. So here are some black 'n' whites to check out.


A wooden door from Gates Mills, OH.


An old well from Bentleyville, OH.


A field in Hunting Valley, OH.

All images shot with a Canon G9 camera.

Copyright 2007 James D. Fisher
All Rights Reserved.

Three Color Variations on Tiles from the Floor of a Deli

Photography starts in the camera but is brought to life in the digital darkroom. In this case, it's Adobe Lightroom. Here a simple exercise of taking an artifact (tile floor) and working out some color variations. Why? Because we can!


Here is what the floor looks like with normal enhancement.


Next is what is called the "300" look which is desaturation of all but one color.


This variation goes after a "negative" look, in other words reversing the lights and darks similar to a b&w negative (but with color).


Finally, let's freak out the colors a bit by split toning or separating the colors.

The image was made with the Canon Powershot G9, another incredible camera.

Here's the dirt on the exposure:

200 ISO
25mm
1/5sec. @ f4.0

Copyright 2007 James D. Fisher
All Rights Reserved.

Just some weird things - Part 1

Somewhere out there are strange people doing strange things. As this blog is sometimes about chronicling human activity here's a few of them.


This guy is somewhere in Northeast Ohio in Lake County. His house, truck and barn are all covered with these strange harangues.


This image is from Kelly's Island. Yes, it is a man walking his goat.


Spiked heels on foot, purse and bass guitar in hand, this young woman crosses the railroad tracks in Kent, OH.

Copyright 2007 James D. Fisher
All Rights Reserved.

Just some weird things - Part 2

Some strange things you can see in people's yards.


This Roman-like plaza with pillars is from the backyard of boxing promoter Don King. There's a whole bunch of these things you see from the road in nearby Orwell, OH


I don't get this one at all. Instead of a black face it looks they tried to paint it white but the paint ran off. You know they just need to bury all of these statues. So old-fashioned, so crude, so offensive. Again, somewhere in Northeast Ohio.


A barn in Chautauqua, NY.

Copyright 2007 James D. Fisher
All Rights Reserved.

Just some weird things - Part 3

These go down as public art I suppose.


This figurine is outside of the Amish Country store in Mesopotamia OH.


Sexy chicken in Key West, FL.


Oh my god, it's the Queen of England also found in Key West, FL


This little guy was hidden away near a pier in Fairport Harbor, OH


Goodfellas bench in Little Italy, Cleveland, OH.

Copyright 2007 James D. Fisher
All Rights Reserved.

The Cavaliers 2007-08 Edition - Part 1 - Back to the Q

Taking in the Cavs home opener brought mixed feelings to me. To begin, watching the Cavs tank in four games to the Spurs last year and seeing the Indians collapse like they did made me think that both have hit their peaks and are ready to take a tumble. Also, the Sasha and Andy holdouts are unsettling as well. Sasha is now in the locker room but a month behind in conditioning. Andy is, well, who knows? It just seems like they did a stupid thing and a very selfish thing with their holdouts. It only hurt the team and why would they do that?

My review will start with Part 1 with everyone getting back to the Q and seeing if the magic is still there. Part 2 will give some observations about LeBron James. Part 3 will be about his supporting cast. And, finally Part 4 will be about my feelings regarding the NBA in general.

Lots of my original pictures will abound! Enjoy!

***** CLICK ON ANY IMAGE TO ENLARGE *****

First, some observations before the game started.


Finally! A title banner is unfurled at the Q. No matter how they finished last year the team did a great job getting past Washington, New Jersey and Detroit in the playoffs. The Spurs, well what-ya-a-gonna-do?


Game one of 2007-08. LeBron comes out with his usual game face. The cameras are awaiting him as ESPN prepares to broadcast the game nationally.


Z comes to game sporting a new doo...well it's not much of a doo.


Good old Joe Tait was there to do the play-by-play.


LeBron James Jr. comes ready to cheer on his famous papa.


Even dance crazy Dallas Maverick owner Mark Cuban is ready for the opener.



Tip-off with 20,000+ screaming, cheering fans. The town is ready too. But what about the players?

Copyright 2007 James D. Fisher
All Rights Reserved.

The Cavaliers 2007-08 Edition - Part 2 - LeBron James

The focal point of the Cavaliers is LeBron James. He is their leader and salvation. Everything in the organization revolves around him. Few sports teams have had the same opportunity to build on a player as the Cavaliers. And that means Michael Jordan too. His era, the 80's and 90's, hadn't glimpsed the global nature of today's NBA. With 200 million Chinese kids playing basketball and leagues forming around the globe, Jordan's legend will soon be eclipsed by LeBron, Carmello, Gilbert, Dwayne and other easily packaged stars.

Here's my thoughts on LeBron entering the 2007-08 season:


LeBron James is the most physically and mentally gifted athlete in the NBA. There isn't anything he won't be able to achieve. If we wants to win the scoring title, he can do it. Triple doubles all year? It will happen before his career is over. It will be our pleasure to watch him for years to come (and no, he ain't leaving town. Cleveland/Akron is the perfect situation for him. Did playing for the Cavs inhibit him from being mobbed by fans in China? Did it stop Nike from displaying a tall banner of him in Times Square? New York needs LeBron more than LeBron needs New York).


The quickness and agility are incomparable. Note the footwork. LeBron has already taken the inside against an over-matched opponent. Footwork is the name of the game playing inside. (This is why Danny Ferry never became the dominating player in the NBA like he was in college. He had no footwork skills.)


Here we see the speed and power. Bursting down the lane before anyone can catch up to him LeBron moves like a running back hitting the line. If he can surround himself with a couple of killer catch and shoot guys then it becomes impossible to stop him. Note I say "killer". Damon? Donyell? Boobie? Sasha? Who will it be?


Now for the leaping ability. Here LeBron dodges 7-footer Dirk Nowitski for a hoop. Is it unimaginable that LeBron could bring down 10+ boards a game? It will happen.


Double team? No problem. Try triple teaming. Without any other credible threat LeBron will see plenty of this all season.


Still LeBron isn't getting the calls he should. He is so strong that opponents bounce off of him and the refs more often than not call it the wrong way.


It's more than likely that LeBron will find a way to overcome the challenges facing him this season but his surrounding cast has become more suspect than ever before.

See my next post regarding the rest of the Cavs.

Copyright 2007 James D. Fisher
All Rights Reserved.

The Cavaliers 2007-08 Edition - Part 3 - The Supporting Cast

A quick look at the major supporting cast of players.


I liked what I saw of Devin Brown. He takes the ball to the hole without hesitation. But what are we talking here? 2-4 points per game off the bench? This is not a major pickup for the Cavs.



Z is looking very fit and ready for the season. It should be another 17 points, 8 boards year. The rebound figure is deceptive because at least two of them per game are from tapping the ball after a miss. With Anderson on holdout the Cavs will have problems on the boards in the early part of the season.


Boobie Gibson did well last year especially in the playoffs. But he ain't no Gilbert Arenas. The regular season starting role means he has to put his game into place every night. Can he get the kind of shots that will produce consistent point totals?


Drew Gooden looks to have a monster year because of more confidence and minutes on the floor.


So what is the Cavs coaching staff thinking about these days? The new offense they brought to the team this year looked pathetic opening night.


Or maybe Coach Brown is wondering what to do with Larry Hughes? Sometimes brilliant but more often inconsistent. He may not be running the offense this year but what's his role? The Cavs need to figure this out and soon.

Copyright 2007 James D. Fisher
All Rights Reserved.

Red Maple Leaf

Popped this image with the LensBaby.

Copyright 2007 James D. Fisher
All Rights Reserved.

Fall harvest(ing)

How do they get all that corn from the field? Pretty simple really.


By mid-October the corn is pretty dried out and ready to be harvested. Most of this corn is used for feed and not for human consumption.


A closeup of the corn dried up on the stalks.


The John Deere harvester on the right sweeps through the fields and processes the corn. The kernels are poured into a waiting truck.

Copyright 2007 James D. Fisher
All Rights Reserved.