Boys and their toys

One of the most important accessories for a photographer to have (other than a camera, tripod and a flash or two) is friends who let you take their picture! 

Hint: if you have the ISO to spare, and the room isn't too dark, try not to use your flash in casual settings - it makes everyone more comfortable.

Nikon D90
25mm - ISO 1600
1/20s- f/4

Sunday Drivers

Went for a Sunday drive today around Auburn and Eskridge.  We blew past this sign (going about 60 - Cory's idea of a Sunday drive) and then backed up for a quick snap. 

Canon 5D Mark II
105mm - ISO 1250
1/1600s- f/4

Shooting a high-contrast cat

Still home sick, so another picture in my living room was in store for me today.  Cats really hate being surprised by bright lights, so I recommend shooting them without flash when possible.  A high ISO tends to be necessary, unless your ambient lights are strong.  Shooting with a shallow depth of field is also good, because it provides definition to whiskers and the edges of their fur.  With a wide DOF, these details can easily blend into the rest of the background.

It also helps if the cat is a bit sleepy and slightly, but not very, curious.  You want them to be looking at the camera with some interest, but if they are too curious they will come straight for the camera.  Which, if you happen to be looking at them through the end of a long lens, can be pretty freaky. 

Objects on the other side of the lens may be further away than they appear, but you still might drop your camera in surprise when they spring right at your face.  A high-contrast cat like Ansel here, is also a plus.

Canon 5D Mark II
105mm - ISO 3200
1/15s- f/4

That Lifetime movie look

Sick again today, and I wanted to see if I could get the camera to see the world as I do right now.  You know, all kind of blurry and bleary?  I think there is a scene that looks like this in almost every Lifetime movie, when the only daughter of the single mom goes off to college and immediately becomes an alcoholic.  Not to make light of underage drinking.  Kids, don't drink.  Get a hobby instead.  Try photography!

This shot just required a couple of layers of Saran Wrap over my camera filter.  I hear that in movies they used to smear Vaseline all over the lens to get a similar effect.  Sounds a bit messy to me.

Canon 5D Mark II
105mm - ISO 640
1/8s- f/4

Winter again

I love the stage of a snowstorm when the snow is still sticking to everything.  Snow pictures almost always benefit from a high-contrast object somewhere in the frame.  Our eyes can look out across a stark, white landscape and discern shapes under the snow, but the camera often can't.  You need something to give the snow shape and dimension, like the iron railing here.

Canon 5D Mark II
105mm - ISO 2000
1/25s- f/4

Just bring it

Tip for today:  Bring your camera.  Anywhere.  Everywhere.  And don't just leave it in the car.  Bring it in!  You never know when the youth minister is going to pull out the world's cutest visual aid. 

Canon 5D Mark II
80mm - ISO 2000
1/60s- f/4

Calico blue

Just a silly shot today of the cat on the windshield.  No special techniques or equipment needed (other than one hungry cat).

Canon 5D Mark II
24mm - ISO 2000
1/1320s- f/4