Last Ride of the Day

Dreamin' of Summer!!!!!

Tech Talk Tuesday (just the basics)

VEILING

Subtle differences can change the look and 'feel' of an image

The photo above is a nice enough picture of Jaron and Michelle in front of a waterfall.  The waterfall is the main subject and Jaron and Michelle add interest and show scale.  I wanted to experiment a bit to come up with a slightly different look.  See if you can tell the difference in the photo below:

In the top photo, the waterfall is SOOTC,  (impressive photo jargon meaning 'straight out of the camera').   In the bottom photo, notice the waterfall is different, more soft and silky.  Not a huge change, but noticeably different.  Nothing right or wrong about the two photos, just a personal preference for the photographer.  In photography circles, this effect is called "veiling", because, well, it looks soft and silky.  To achieve this look you must check out a few things.  You need to have a scene where the parts that aren't going to be veiled can remain still.  In this case, no wind to move the foliage and Jaron and Michelle who were able to hold perfectly still for longer than the usual snap of the shutter button.  Then depending on the speed of your lens, and the lighting conditions of the scene, you have to be able to slow down your shutter speed, (while maintaining a proper exposure), so that only the moving water is slightly blurred.   (You know the thousands of pictures you take of your kids who are always in motion and when the photos come back the kids are blurry, but the background is sharp????  This is the same thing, only now you are doing it on purpose!!!)  Often this involves using a darkening filter (neutral density filter) screwed onto your lens so the shutter can stay open longer without 'blowing out' or over exposing the photo, and a tripod because of the slow shutter speed.

But wait!  There's more!   It's another way to accomplish this same look.  Much to the delight of many photographers, and the distaste of others, computers, software, and post processing can allow the photographer many ways to change the look and feel of her images after they have been taken.  For those of you familiar with Photoshop or Photoshop Elements,  (or other software), there are always numerous ways to achieve variations of veiling.  One way is to experiment with the 'motion blur' filter.   Since my 'Tech Talk Tuesdays' are primarily to show beginners, (and non-believers), why photography is so fun, I've just done a simple overview.  Let me know if you want more details.  Below is another photo with soft and silky water!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY Grandpa & Grandma Larsen!

R

Russ, Kay Lynn & Jacob flew in to help us celebrate Grandpa and Grandma's birthdays. It was Kay Lynn's birthday, too! Grandpa is 93, and I think Grandma is 87, (someone correct me if I'm wrong), and Kay Lynn is 39! We went out to dinner then back to Jan & John's house for birthday cake and movies. We also watched a video Kay Lynn made of their family trip to China last summer. It is always fun being together, visiting and catching up. What a blessing that our family is also our very best friends!!!

Phriday Phun

THE BEST FAMILY GAME EVER......WE CALL IT THE BAG GAME!

If you want a fun, simple, quick, easy, active game that EVERYONE of EVERY AGE can play, then this is it!  From toddlers to grandpas,  it's fun to play, and more fun to watch.  I have photos of all the family playing this game on Christmas Eve that I've posted on the website, but here I'm posting just the oldest and youngest participants.  I will have to mention that Scott won and I think Jaron was a close second.  The rules are simple.  Take a plain paper bag, bend over on just one leg and pick it up with your mouth without putting your other foot on the floor.  We do, however, bend the one leg rule for players under 2 years old!!!   (Hint - if there is a big group playing, the strategy is to go first so the edges of the bag aren't slobbery wet by the time your turn comes.)  After everyone has had a turn, two inches are cut off the top of the bag, and those who were successful in the first round move on.  And on and on it goes to see how low you can go!  We were reminiscing about a Larsen family reunion at Lake Powell years ago, when Jaron & Lindsey were the two remaining players and Lindsey won with the bag about an inch high.

Tech Talk Tuesday

Taking Time to Connect With the World

As I've often said, photography of all types can influence us in profound ways.   And one of the best ways to become a better photographer is to study the work of talented photographers of all types of photography and contemplate why their images are memorable.  Today,  I only want to speak about photojournalism.  These are photos that show a moment of reality as seen by someone, at some place, at some time, and are frozen by the click of a shutter button.  With a click of your mouse I'm making it easy for you to view a group of exceptional photographs that summarize some world events of 2009.  Through the magic of photography you will be able to witness, 'up close and personal', amazing scenes and events as they happened.  You will laugh, you will cry, and you will be shocked.  I think you will be profoundly moved by many of them.  These photos are not to be skimmed through briefly.  Please don't click on the following link until you have some quiet time so as not to be interrupted, then take time to observe, study, read, and ponder what is happening in our world, as seen by some amazing photojournalists.  I tried to summarize my feelings and emotions as I took this visual journey, but there were too many; however,  my overwhelming thought was a prayer of gratitude for all I have been blessed with, and that in my life, so far, I have been shielded and protected from most of the hardships that so much of humanity must endure.  I have been reminded that no matter where on the planet we live, we all share the same spectrum of human emotions as we struggle to make sense of the circumstances we've been given throughout the course of our lives.   I hope you find the experience thought provoking as well, and if you are so inclined, let me know how you were moved by this collection of photographs.

(When you click on the following link, note there are four parts.  After you have looked at the first group of photos, scroll back to the top, and in the center, in small print, there is a place to click for the second group, third group, and fourth group.) 

http://blogs.denverpost.com/captured/2009/12/14/the-year-in-photos-2009-part-1-of-4/

If you want more, check out the following:
http://online.wsj.com/public/resources/documents/2009_in_photos.html

January Desktop Image

Here is something new for 2010.   Every month I'll edit and resize an image to use on your desktop that will be large enough to fill your monitor without being pixelated.  Just click  here  to download, then right click to set as a desktop image.  Please let me know if this doesn't work on your monitor. 

Phriday Phun

WHAT DO THE NEIGHBORS THINK??????

Oh My!!  On our many road trips through the years, we have seen a fair number of weird....maybe I should politely say, non conventional, houses, the most prevalent being some variation of the  classic geodesic dome.  (I'd have quite a collection now if I'd taken photos.)  Jeff and I always point them out, laugh, and say, "Well, there's the work of another 'wet behind the ears' architect fresh out of college, who's sure he'll become the next Frank Lloyd Wright, or Save the Planet Guru!"   I think this house is in our top 10 most memorable.  It is visible from a main road just outside Sedona.  We had to stop on the road for me to snap this photo out the car window.  It is in an upscale neighborhood that I couldn't access, so this photo does NOT do justice to this 'dwelling'.  Obviously we were only one of many who have tried to get a better look, because there is a little sign that says 'private property'  and then a website to see more.  This photo shows only a small part of the many, multicolored eggs that make up this house.  As I mentioned, it is in an upscale neighborhood, so I'm sure there has been a fair amount of controversy.   Click on the following link to see the full impact, then decide what you think the neighbors are thinking??????       http://web.me.com/xanadunow/Site/iDome.html

Tech Talk Tuesday

One Way to Get Great Candids

Sometimes it's possible to catch great candids when you are supposed to be doing formal portraits.   You've already asked them to look at the camera, smile, reposition the hands,  change poses, etc.  So now you tell them to take a break while you change your camera settings, clean your lens, check your exposure, etc.  Because they are 'on a break' they often become more relaxed, less self conscious about having their picture taken, and start interacting in a natural way.  This works great with family and couple portraits where you want to show connections or relationships with people.  The following are a couple of 'out takes' from previously posted portraits.

Happy Belated NEW YEAR!

Jeff & I took off for a few days to Sedona so Jeff could pick up a newly purchased car, and I tagged along hoping for some warmer weather.  Jeff got his car, but I didn't get warmer weather.  It was a mixture of clouds, rain, and snow, with a bit of sunshine thrown in the last day we were there.  I ventured outside just long enough to take a few photos.  The greens were all gone or muted with the season, but the red rocks just before sunset were as beautiful as ever.  Hope everyone had a great New Year celebration.

Contact Me

Jaron, Michelle & Sawyer

I succeeded in getting family portraits of everyone except Will & Amber.  Well, hopefully next Christmas we will have everyone together. 

Jeff & I are taking off tomorrow morning for Sedona, Arizona so I'll not be posting for the next few days.  Hope everyone has a safe and fun New Year's celebration.

The Kimball Boys

Trying to get 4 HYPERactive boys to sit still for 2 seconds on Christmas Eve is next to impossible!!  We had a wonderful time at Scott and Tiera's home;  eating, playing games, opening presents, doing a service project, and especially celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ.

Dalin & Emily

From Our Home to Yours......

.......we wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Tech Talk Tuesday

SALT LAKE TEMPLE

Sometimes a photo of a familiar landmark becomes more interesting if you can find a perspective or viewpoint that is not often seen. A few days ago I went to Temple Square with a group of photographers to photograph the lights. (Jeff came as my dutiful camera bag carrier.) I tried to find ways of looking at the temple that I had not seen before.

Tyler & friend Emily

It's a Miracle!!!

A nice Christmas portrait. It's a miracle that all four boys are actually looking at the camera and a real plus, they are actually smiling. (And the reason for this is that I have the best assistant in the world. Michelle is behind the scene jumping around like a crazy woman to keep their attention).

Larsen Christmas Party 2009

We were small in numbers this year, but the food was delicious and it is always good to get together with our family.

Phriday Phun

THE KIMBALL FAMILY
With four very active boys, sometimes life is just a blur!!!!

Tech Talk Tuesday

High Dynamic Range
(combining multiple exposures)

Here is a nice photo of Jeff I took at one of the colorful, brightly decorated open air eating places we saw throughout our travels in Costa Rica. It was raining, which made the colors even more bright and saturated, so I wanted to duplicate what my eyes saw, but what my camera could not record. (Remember that a camera cannot record as many shades from dark to light as the human eye can see.) I should have had a tripod, but I didn't, so I braced my camera to be as still as possible, then told Jeff to hold perfectly still. I set 'auto bracketing' to take 3 shots right in a row. One at +2 exposure, one at the exposure the camera would chose as correct, and one at -2 exposure. I also turned the automatic timer on so I didn't have to push the button, further reducing camera shake. I ended up with the following 3 images. See photos below and more explanation of how I made the above photo.

In this above shot you can see the colorful tablecloths and napkins, and bright details, but obviously it is all washed out, and the bright background is totally blown out.



In this shot the camera is trying to do its best to compromise by balancing the dark foreground, tables and part of the ceiling and the bright background, while putting the most emphasis for a correct exposure on the main subject, Jeff. But he is still too dark. All these compromises don't really show how this scene looked to me.



In this underexposed shot, everything is compromised in order to properly expose the bright part of the roof and the background greenery.

So now look at these 3 shots, then compare them to the top photo, and you can see a fairly good combination of the best parts of all the exposures. If the scene you are photographing is all in even light, there is no need to combine exposures. Or if the scene has a bright upper half, like the sky, and a dark bottom half, like flowers in the shade, one could put a split level neutral density filter on their lens to correct the problem. But in a scene like this, you can use the miracle of computer editing, plus a little know how, (and a decent camera), and make it possible to approximate what the human eye can see. You can do this several ways in Photoshop, or there are numerous programs that combine images and allow you great leeway in adjusting the final image. One can make the image look realistic, or use some 'artistic license' to make an image that is out of this world fantasy looking. I should also add, that I'm giving the basics in the simplest way. In reality there are many more steps involved before I'm happy with the end result.

HDR imaging is still a controversy among photographers. Some 'traditionalists' don't like HDR, or other advances in photographic technology for that matter. I happen to love the look, usually in moderation to make a good image better, but not taken to the fantasy level. If you want to see the King of HDR and some amazing images, (whether you like them or not), go HERE, then let me know what you think! (I just noticed he has a few family photos posted, so scroll down a bit to see some of his travel photos.)