I converted this image into a B&W photograph bacause I like the way her eyes stand out better than the colour version. You can see the colour version and some more images posted on The PhotoRoom forum website by clicking on the Moto X headline.
Saturday, 29 September 2007
Moto X
I was at the Motocross Championship R6 hosted by North Dublin Motorcycle Club in Gormonston, Co. Meath today. The Canon was firing non-stop. I took about 950 images and am well pleased with the performance of the camera and myself as this was the first real sports photography shoot besides for the Marathon work I do for ASI that is.
I converted this image into a B&W photograph bacause I like the way her eyes stand out better than the colour version. You can see the colour version and some more images posted on The PhotoRoom forum website by clicking on the Moto X headline.
I converted this image into a B&W photograph bacause I like the way her eyes stand out better than the colour version. You can see the colour version and some more images posted on The PhotoRoom forum website by clicking on the Moto X headline.
Friday, 28 September 2007
Sarah & Canon 1D mkIII
This is a image of my daughter Sarah out on her skates tonight.
The image was taken with my new Canon EOS 1D mkIII and the 70-200 F2.8 L IS lens.
The details are as follows:-
ISO 400
1/100 sec @ F4.0
AL Servo focus
200mm focal length.
Hand Held.
I don't know what people are going on about a focus problem.
The image was taken with my new Canon EOS 1D mkIII and the 70-200 F2.8 L IS lens.
The details are as follows:-
ISO 400
1/100 sec @ F4.0
AL Servo focus
200mm focal length.
Hand Held.
I don't know what people are going on about a focus problem.
Thursday, 27 September 2007
LensWork
The premise of LensWork is that photography is more than mere craft. Photography is, or can be, a way of life. Beyond cameras and equipment, beyond film and chemistry, beyond pixels and technology lie the mysteries of the creative life shared by those who strive to communicate and express themselves clearly – fine art photographers, commercial photographers, amateurs and professionals. LensWork is an exploration of the path of creative photography. Through an exchange of ideas, insight, personal experience, and opinions it is hoped LensWork will inspire photographic artists to create work which truly bears their signature.
The focus of LensWork is ideas as well as images, imagination rather than imitation, and an understanding of photography beyond craft. For those looking for a more technically oriented publication, we refer you to one of the many excellent photographic books or magazines currently available.
LensWork in Print
LensWork is a 96-page, 7x8½” paperback magazine -- a book-quality, paper-based, anthology-style periodical publication which focuses on photography and the creative process. Each issue featuring articles, interviews, and photographic portfolios. Non-technical and non-academic, with emphasis on the creative aspects of photography, LensWork is published six times a year and is available by subscription, or at better bookstores and newsstands. Back issues are available from the publisher while supplies last.
LensWork Back Issues on CD-ROM is a complete set of back issues of LensWork, perpetually available even after the paperback magazines are long sold out. These Acrobat PDF format computer files are exact replications of the actual magazine pages that can be read on-screen or printed to your desktop printer. The CD-ROM can be played on Mac or Windows based systems. It requires only the free Adobe Acrobat Reader software. There is no other installation, setup or software required.
LensWork EXTENDED – even more!
In each issue of LensWork Extended we include all the images from the portfolios in LensWork without the compromise imposed by the restricted space available in print publications. Using the universal Acrobat PDF format on these computer discs, there is enough room for hundreds of images and extended text in addition to audio and video elements not possible in paper. This revolutionary new publishing technology offers us the opportunity to share with you so much additional content that simply won’t fit in the 96 pages of LensWorkLensWork Extended is more and then some. We add a Bonus Gallery, extra videos, interviews with the photographers, studio quality versions of our podcasts, bonus articles, and much more! on paper. You’ve asked for more;
Wednesday, 26 September 2007
Camus Bay using LightZone
This image took a complete 15 seconds to convert into B&W and a few extra styles added using LightZone image editor.
This was taken a few months back while over in the West on holidays.
Take the Spiddle road out of Galway and then keep right on the R336 heading towards Maam Cross. You will come across Camus Bay on the left. Stop anywhere along here for some wonderful landscapes images with the The Twelve Bens in the background.
This was taken a few months back while over in the West on holidays.
Take the Spiddle road out of Galway and then keep right on the R336 heading towards Maam Cross. You will come across Camus Bay on the left. Stop anywhere along here for some wonderful landscapes images with the The Twelve Bens in the background.
LightZone by LightCrafts
Advanced photo-editing made simple
LightZone is the essential desktop photo-editing software for people who value their photographs. LightZone is purpose-built for photography and allows anyone, regardless of photographic skillset, to edit photographs quickly and easily.
LightZone’s individuality shines brightest in its unique approach to lighting and tonal corrections. Photos are broken into 16 shades of gray, displayed in a linear scale called the ZoneMapper (derived from Ansel Adams’ photographic Zone System), wherein each shade represents the lighting difference of half an f-stop. Hover your mouse over any shade and the corresponding areas light up in the ZoneFinder, a small grayscale representation of the photo at the top right of the window. (If this sounds a bit complicated, don’t worry; LightZone’s help system is amazingly well developed, and it will get you up to speed quickly.)
For example, to see the darkest area (shadows) in your photo, hover over the blackest bar in the ZoneMapper. To see the lightest area (highlights), hover over the whitest bar. To make a change, click once in that area of the ZoneMapper and drag the resulting blue line (the zone lock) up to brighten or down to darken. This unique ability to see the highlights, shadows, and midtones is nothing short of revolutionary, and it’s more intuitive than methods used in other editors, like Photoshop’s Levels and Curves.
The new Relight tool lets you adjust contrast and lighting even further, and most tools have blend modes for controlling how adjustments in the tool stack interact with each other, complete with an opacity control.
Any adjustment can be copied from one photo and applied to others. Pros will also enjoy LightZone’s Raw adjustment tool and the ability to edit metadata.
Monday, 24 September 2007
Inch Beach
This image you see below was taken back in 2005 of the beach at Inch, Co. Kerry
I put this image forward for The Daily Critique on The Radiant Vista website www.radiantvista.com
Craig Tanner had nothing but good words to say about the image. He also said that if this is what Ireland looks like he must come here. I have to agree with Craig, Ireland is a wonderful place to be a landscape photographer. Every hour the weather and light changes which makes for very interesting possibilities for great images.
This is not your usual view from Inch. You can just about make out the cars parked on the beach. This is were most tourist's would walk and take their photographs. While the tide was out I walked out and turned back to look and see if my children had followed. Well I was amazed at the view. The reflections of the clouds and mountains in the water. I used a polariser and ND Grad filters to hold detail in the sky and water.
I put this image forward for The Daily Critique on The Radiant Vista website www.radiantvista.com
Craig Tanner had nothing but good words to say about the image. He also said that if this is what Ireland looks like he must come here. I have to agree with Craig, Ireland is a wonderful place to be a landscape photographer. Every hour the weather and light changes which makes for very interesting possibilities for great images.
This is not your usual view from Inch. You can just about make out the cars parked on the beach. This is were most tourist's would walk and take their photographs. While the tide was out I walked out and turned back to look and see if my children had followed. Well I was amazed at the view. The reflections of the clouds and mountains in the water. I used a polariser and ND Grad filters to hold detail in the sky and water.
Adidas Dublin Half Marathon
I do some work for Action Sports International
( www.asiphoto.net ). They area photo agency that has specialised in competition photography for many outstanding sporting events worldwide. However I only get to cover the events here in Ireland. On Saturday 22nd September it was the turn for the Adidas Dublin Half Marathon in the Phoenix Park. We had six photographers covering this event with an average of 2,800 images taken by each one. These images are uploaded to ASI's website and the participants can order images. The next event will be the Adidas Dublin Marathon on the Bank Holiday in October.
Sunday, 23 September 2007
Winning Image
My winning image of "Hill of Skyrne" is on the December page of "The Heritage of County Meath" calender 2008.
The accompanying text was written by Clare Tuffy from the Office of Public Works.
"The name Skyrne comes from the Latin word, scrinium, a shrine. The first church on this siye was dedicated to St Columcille and there was a shrine to him here. It was an important Norman site and the present church was founded about 1341. There are wounderful views from the ruins looking west across the Gaghra Valley to the Hill of Tara"
The purpose of the calender is to create a greater awareness of the vast heritage in County Meath, acting as a promotional tool for potential visitors.
The accompanying text was written by Clare Tuffy from the Office of Public Works."The name Skyrne comes from the Latin word, scrinium, a shrine. The first church on this siye was dedicated to St Columcille and there was a shrine to him here. It was an important Norman site and the present church was founded about 1341. There are wounderful views from the ruins looking west across the Gaghra Valley to the Hill of Tara"
The purpose of the calender is to create a greater awareness of the vast heritage in County Meath, acting as a promotional tool for potential visitors.
A Funny Story
The Smiths were unable to conceive children and decided to use a
surrogate father to start their family.
On the day the proxy father was to arrive, Mr. Smith kissed his wife
goodbye and said, "Well, I'm off now; the man should be here soon."
Half an hour later, just by chance, a door-to-door baby photographer
happened to ring the doorbell, hoping to make a sale.
Good morning, Ma'am", he said, "I've come to...''
Oh, no need to explain," Mrs. Smith cut in, embarrassed, "I've been
expecting you."
"Have you really?" said the photographer. "Well, that's good. Did you
know babies are my specialty?"
"Well that's what my husband and I had hoped. Please come in and have a
seat"
After a moment she asked, blushing, "Well, where do we start?"
"Leave everything to me. I usually try two in the bathtub, one on the
couch, and perhaps a couple on the bed. And sometimes the living room
floor is fun. You can really spread out there."
"Bathtub, living room floor? No wonder it didn't work out for Harry and
me!"
"Well, Ma'am, none of us can guarantee a good one every time. But if we
try several different positions and I shoot from six or seven angles,
I'm sure you'll be pleased with the results."
"My, that's a lot!" gasped Mrs. Smith.
"Ma'am, in my line of work a man has to take his time. I'd love to be in
and out in five minutes, but I'm sure you'd be disappointed with that."
"Don't I know it," said Mrs. Smith quietly.
The photographer opened his briefcase and pulled out a portfolio of his
baby pictures. "This was done on the top of a bus," he said.
"Oh my God!" Mrs. Smith exclaimed, grasping at her throat.
"And these twins turned out exceptionally well - when you consider their
mother was so difficult to work with."
"She was difficult?" asked Mrs. Smith.
"Yes, I'm afraid so I finally had to take her to the park to get the job
done right. People were crowding around four and five deep to get a good
look."
"Four and five deep?" said Mrs. Smith, her eyes wide with amazement.
"Yes", the photographer replied. "And for more than three hours, too.
The mother was constantly squealing and yelling - I could hardly
concentrate, and when darkness approached I had to rush my shots.
Finally, when the squirrels began nibbling on my equipment, I just had
to pack it all in."
Mrs. Smith leaned forward. "Do you mean they actually chewed on your,
uh ...equipment?"
"It's true, Ma'am, yes.. Well, if you're ready, I'll set-up my tripod
and we can get to work right away."
"Tripod?"
"Oh yes, Ma'am. I need to use a tripod to rest my Canon on. It's much
too big to be held in the hand very long."
surrogate father to start their family.
On the day the proxy father was to arrive, Mr. Smith kissed his wife
goodbye and said, "Well, I'm off now; the man should be here soon."
Half an hour later, just by chance, a door-to-door baby photographer
happened to ring the doorbell, hoping to make a sale.
Good morning, Ma'am", he said, "I've come to...''
Oh, no need to explain," Mrs. Smith cut in, embarrassed, "I've been
expecting you."
"Have you really?" said the photographer. "Well, that's good. Did you
know babies are my specialty?"
"Well that's what my husband and I had hoped. Please come in and have a
seat"
After a moment she asked, blushing, "Well, where do we start?"
"Leave everything to me. I usually try two in the bathtub, one on the
couch, and perhaps a couple on the bed. And sometimes the living room
floor is fun. You can really spread out there."
"Bathtub, living room floor? No wonder it didn't work out for Harry and
me!"
"Well, Ma'am, none of us can guarantee a good one every time. But if we
try several different positions and I shoot from six or seven angles,
I'm sure you'll be pleased with the results."
"My, that's a lot!" gasped Mrs. Smith.
"Ma'am, in my line of work a man has to take his time. I'd love to be in
and out in five minutes, but I'm sure you'd be disappointed with that."
"Don't I know it," said Mrs. Smith quietly.
The photographer opened his briefcase and pulled out a portfolio of his
baby pictures. "This was done on the top of a bus," he said.
"Oh my God!" Mrs. Smith exclaimed, grasping at her throat.
"And these twins turned out exceptionally well - when you consider their
mother was so difficult to work with."
"She was difficult?" asked Mrs. Smith.
"Yes, I'm afraid so I finally had to take her to the park to get the job
done right. People were crowding around four and five deep to get a good
look."
"Four and five deep?" said Mrs. Smith, her eyes wide with amazement.
"Yes", the photographer replied. "And for more than three hours, too.
The mother was constantly squealing and yelling - I could hardly
concentrate, and when darkness approached I had to rush my shots.
Finally, when the squirrels began nibbling on my equipment, I just had
to pack it all in."
Mrs. Smith leaned forward. "Do you mean they actually chewed on your,
uh ...equipment?"
"It's true, Ma'am, yes.. Well, if you're ready, I'll set-up my tripod
and we can get to work right away."
"Tripod?"
"Oh yes, Ma'am. I need to use a tripod to rest my Canon on. It's much
too big to be held in the hand very long."
Mrs. Smith fainted!
Viewpoints
"one location, different interpretations"
Myself, Carsten Krieger and Peter Cox have joined together to form a group call "Viewpoints" with the end result of this project to publish a book.
Several planned trips to the National Parks around Ireland with each of us bringing a different eye and photographic style.
This will be a very interesting, different, next couple of years until the end of the project.
Goto the 'More Photographer's' to see the personal websites and some wonderful colour images of Ireland from these photographers.
Clare Island
Image of the Month for Setpember taken from my website http://www.nmsphoto.com/
This Image is called Clare Island 1 and can be found in the Places, Buildings and Objects section from the Gallery on my website www.nmsphoto.com
On your drive over to Achill Island you will cross over the bridge at Achill Sound. You the then turn right when you see the sign post for The Atlantic Drive. This will take you around the southern tip of Achill island and onto spectacular views along the cost line. There are parking locations along the way so you can stop and pull in safely. At one of these locations you will see Clare Island sticking up over the horizon.
This image was taken around 12 0'clock in the day not midnight as you might be thinking.
When i got back home after this trip over in the west of Ireland, looking at the images on screen this one jumped out. On the day the weather was dull at times. It had just stopped raining and the sun was trying to come out from behind the clouds. What makes this image for me is the light over the island and the cloud covering the top of the island.
Placing the horizon in the lower portion of the image because there was nothing of interest but water which leaves more room for the sky and what a sky. As they say in the ad, nothing added but time. I knew the clouds would break and the sun would shine. You just have to be patent. Sit back, enjoy the views and pour yourself a cup of tea.
This Image is called Clare Island 1 and can be found in the Places, Buildings and Objects section from the Gallery on my website www.nmsphoto.com
On your drive over to Achill Island you will cross over the bridge at Achill Sound. You the then turn right when you see the sign post for The Atlantic Drive. This will take you around the southern tip of Achill island and onto spectacular views along the cost line. There are parking locations along the way so you can stop and pull in safely. At one of these locations you will see Clare Island sticking up over the horizon.
This image was taken around 12 0'clock in the day not midnight as you might be thinking.
When i got back home after this trip over in the west of Ireland, looking at the images on screen this one jumped out. On the day the weather was dull at times. It had just stopped raining and the sun was trying to come out from behind the clouds. What makes this image for me is the light over the island and the cloud covering the top of the island.
Placing the horizon in the lower portion of the image because there was nothing of interest but water which leaves more room for the sky and what a sky. As they say in the ad, nothing added but time. I knew the clouds would break and the sun would shine. You just have to be patent. Sit back, enjoy the views and pour yourself a cup of tea.
The Canvas Works
A selection of my Black & White Landscapes from my website www.nmsphoto.com are available as canvas prints from The Canvas Works.
The photo canvas specialists in Ireland.
For photos on canvas in Ireland, limited-edition canvas prints, modern art canvas prints, contemporary illustrations on canvas and limited-edition photography on canvas, The Canvas Works is the place to come.
For photos on canvas in Ireland, limited-edition canvas prints, modern art canvas prints, contemporary illustrations on canvas and limited-edition photography on canvas, The Canvas Works is the place to come.
The Wedding of Dottie & Jim
Good friends of mine got married in August last and asked me to do the photo's for them.
Here is one of the fun images taken on that day.
The PhotoRooms
A Photography Forum
Check out the latest photography news, discuss and critique photography in our forum, visit our tutorials section, check out the latest events in our calender and roam our galleries.
Check out the latest photography news, discuss and critique photography in our forum, visit our tutorials section, check out the latest events in our calender and roam our galleries.
Colour Images
Yes I also take colour images.
This was one of the first images taken with my new Canon EOS 5D with the 24-70 L lens over at Port Head, Co. Louth last week. I left my house at around 4 in the morning and started to shoot at about 5 o'clock. A note to myself to bring a torch the next so that i can see where i am going.
This images shows the Moon and the planet Venus below it (sometimes called The Morning Star). No work was done to the RAW file except for the usual unsharp mask.
This was one of the first images taken with my new Canon EOS 5D with the 24-70 L lens over at Port Head, Co. Louth last week. I left my house at around 4 in the morning and started to shoot at about 5 o'clock. A note to myself to bring a torch the next so that i can see where i am going.This images shows the Moon and the planet Venus below it (sometimes called The Morning Star). No work was done to the RAW file except for the usual unsharp mask.
Killney Bay
A sample image from the trip to Killney Bay:
A family day out to Bray Pier was cut short by a down pour of very heavy rain. It was too early to drive back home so we took the detour route home via the coast road. Just as we got to Killney Bay the clouds lifted and he sun came out. This is just one of the images taken down at Killney Bay. While the rest of the family were enjoying this sunshine a was running around taking as many images from different points before the light changed.
A family day out to Bray Pier was cut short by a down pour of very heavy rain. It was too early to drive back home so we took the detour route home via the coast road. Just as we got to Killney Bay the clouds lifted and he sun came out. This is just one of the images taken down at Killney Bay. While the rest of the family were enjoying this sunshine a was running around taking as many images from different points before the light changed.
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